You Can Bounce Back From Lying, Deception, and Cheating

Patricia Morgan Emotional Insight, Personal Resilience forgiveness, Oprah 0

Lance Armstrong’s Deception Caught

The headlines were filled with cycling champion, Lance Armstrong’s lying, deception, and cheating. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey (televised January 17, 2013) he said, “I went and looked up the definition of cheat . . . the definition is to gain an advantage on a rival or foe. I did not view it that way. I viewed it as a level playing field.”

The Consequences of Lying and Deception

Regardless of his definition and how he viewed it, Lance Armstrong lied, deceived the judges, and cheated. He violated the trust of millions who supported his charity, LiveStrong Foundation. Many of them felt hurt, betrayed, and disgusted. Some threw daggers and threats Armstrong’s way. He was globally judged and shamed as A Liar! I have been with people suicidal for far smaller deceptions.

The bigger the cheat and lie, the bigger the consequences—financially, socially, and emotionally. In order to recover, Armstrong will need to work on strengthening his resilience. He will probably never be allowed to bounce back on a bicycle saddle during any future and official races.

Definition of Cheat

Most of us have cheated, lied, deceived or betrayed someone. However, you probably have not used performance enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France. Yet, I encourage you to consider these statistics and definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Cheat means:

To influence or lead by deceit, trick or artifice. A survey by CareerBuilder.com found 57% of managers say they have caught a lie in a resume, but only 5% of people admit to it. Of the managers who caught lies, 93% of them did not hire the candidate.
To violate rules dishonestly: CBC radio reported that on the long weekend of August 2012 officers issued a total of 5,140 driving violation tickets including 3,556 speeding tickets and 257 alcohol related offences.
To be sexually unfaithful: It wasn’t that long ago that Tiger Woods was hot news on this kind of cheating. The findings of a study done at Indiana University and released in the fall of 2011 found that 19% of women and 23% of men reported they had cheated on their spouses.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you, Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, estimates that, on average, we are lied to from 10 to 200 times daily.

Lying and cheating can range from minor transgressions such as cheating at Monopoly to big time scams such as sophisticated PonziSchemes.

Bounce Back from Lying, Deception, and Cheating

To live with ethical integrity, we want to avoid the temptation to participate in deception despite the perceived gain. The effort to fully bounce back after a major cheat is exhausting.

Armstrong can, however, bounce back, to regain his sense of dignity and peace . . . and it will take significant time, soul searching and making amends to do that. In a second interview with Oprah Winfrey (televised January 18, 2013), he confirmed that he received counselling. Good on him, for reaching out for support, guidance and help.

By 2024 Lance Armstrong had reinvented himself, declared sobriety and now focuses on entrepreneurship, podcasting, and cancer advocacy. Even more, Canadian Cycling Magazinereports that Armstrong actively educated about the dangers of using illegal drugs.

Lessons from the Lance Armstrong Dope Scandal

The Consequences of a Lie

Lance Armstrong’s lies didn’t just hurt his reputation—they cost him sponsorships, titles, and his place in history. His story shows how a lie, even if initially successful, can ultimately be found out and lead to negative consequences, both personally and professionally.

The Power of Public Perception

Armstrong was once viewed as a hero, especially due to his cancer recovery. His fall from grace demonstrates how public perception can dramatically change when lies are exposed. This demonstrates the importance of integrity, as public trust is difficult to rebuild once it’s lost.

The Importance of Accountability

For years, Armstrong denied his use of performance-enhancing drugs, but when the truth came out, his refusal to take responsibility made his situation worse. Being accountable for our behaviours demonstrate a commitment to change and personal growth.

The Dangers of Winning at Any Cost

Armstrong’s relentless pursuit of victory, even at the cost of his reputation, shows the dangerous of obsessing over success. Winning at any cost risks destroying not only our personal values but trust in the larger community.

The Role of Support Systems

Armstrong’s failing also illustrates how critical support systems, like teammates, friends, and the public, can be. Many teammates and staff participated in and supported his cover-up. He didn’t have an ethical support system in to help him stay grounded and honest.

Conclusion:

When we give in to the temptation to cheat, lie, deceive or betray, let us muster up some self-compassion and self-forgiveness. What would it be like if we imagined being Lance Armstrong’s compassionate therapist? If he had an effective one, it was probably his first step to bouncing back to a healthy, honest and meaningful life that he now lives.

There is shame to deal with when we fall in the depths of deception. But lying, deception and cheating are not death sentences. We can make amends, forgive ourselves, and get back to full-out living. If Lance Armstrong can, so can we; so can you!