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People lie for different reasons and it's usually not clear-cut. Though your friend's lying may have hurt you, that may not have been their intention. Think about the underlying goal behind your friend's lie. What purpose did the lie serve? Did it get them out of trouble, make them look good in front of others, or prevent someone's feelings from getting hurt? For example, your friend may have told you they weren't seeing anyone, but you later find out they were secretly in a relationship. They may have lied because they weren't ready to introduce their date or weren't sure if the relationship was serious. Your friend may have lied due to extreme pressure or influence from you or someone else. To see if this is the case, look back over your behavior before the lie. Did you do or say something that influenced the lie? For instance, your best friend lies about seeing your girlfriend with someone else because you just said "Everyone is trying to tear us apart." They may have lied so they aren't accused of sabotaging your relationship. Before you make up your mind about things, get a second opinion. Talk to a parent, sibling, or another close friend about what happened. Laying out the events to someone else could help you get a different perspective. Say something like, "Hey, Rita, I'm worried that Jen is lying about something. How has she seemed to you lately?" A straightforward confrontation may be the best way to address your best friend's lying. Stay calm, call out the lie, and ask them to explain themselves. Use "I" statements to cut down on defensiveness. You might say, "I know you lied to me about having plans this weekend. I heard you on the phone with Sarah. Can you help me understand why you lied?" If you and your friend are in a group, you might pull them aside to confront them privately. Don't let your pal know you've caught their scent. Continue the conversation by querying them for more info. Ask clarifying questions that help uncover the truth. Let's say your friend lies and says, "Yeah, I didn't do anything this weekend, but study." Don't say, "You're lying!" Go for a more subtle approach, like "Hmph, that's weird. Josh said he saw you down at the creek on Saturday. He must have been mistaken, huh?" Act as though the lie were funny. Playfully deflect to get your friend to admit the truth. You might say, "Oh my goodness, I actually think your nose got bigger just now!" Letting on that you know they're lying without direct confrontation may ease tension and help you get to the truth. As hard as it may be, sometimes lies aren't worth the effort. If your friend's lie is minor and not hurting anyone, just overlook it. There's no use creating negative energy between you and your bestie over a little white lie.
Figure out their motive. Reflect on your own actions. Get someone else's input. Be direct. Play dumb and ask for more info. Laugh it off. Ignore it.