Is it better for some secrets to be kept? Have you ever kept a secret that you later wish you hadn't?

Is it better for some secrets to be kept? Have you ever kept a secret that you later wish you hadn't?

Definitely, especially if the secret does more harm than good.

Secrets are deceptive. They take things away from people, not allowing them to actually be who they really are. They stir up questions, an uneasiness, misunderstanding, and doubt. Secrets take away from a relationship between people.
With that said, there are times that a secret - however deceiving - may be better than to let the truth be revealed.

Some secrets are better kept than shared, especially those which really are not anyone else's business. Secrets which are related to physical or mental harm should be shared so help may be forthcoming. As a kid I had lots of secrets but in the end keeping them made me ill. When that became apparent, I willingly shared them, along with the fact that sharing helps others realize how harmful keeping some secrets may be.

Secrets are hard to define. To others they may be insignificant, but to the holder if they are an embarrassment or harmful to innocents, then keeping secrets are justified. Often truth is not necessarily advantageous to anyone, such as the secret of Lachie’s father.

In my lifetime I have told secrets in a fit of confidentiality and kicked myself for doing so. Mainly this is because I feel I may be judged by that person after the fact. I don’t like it when someone close to me takes it upon themselves to tell something I’d as soon keep secret. “It stays in the family.” Uh huh.

Sooner or later they will be revealed. It might seem like a good thing, but like a lie it will come out.

An old saying - If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.
– George Orwell
It seems that the characters in The Dry were unable to hide those secrets from themselves.

I agree that some secrets are better to be kept. I am still keeping a couple from my past and I wish I had the courage to share because they do bother me at times. I guess I look at how it will affect others instead of myself and just continue to keep it in.

Some secrets cause more harm than good. The only person that a secret tends to bother is the person keeping it. I have kept secrets only because no one else needs to know and they do not affect other people.

I think people have to be careful what they share. Every situation and secret is different and one has to weigh the pros and cons of revelation. Keeping some secrets can protect others, some can protect the secret-keeper. We used to be able to tell our best friends our secrets, but now with social media many kids find their "secrets" broadcast as soon as there is a fight amongst "friends". A secret can be used as a weapon. Journals and diaries can be found and read by others...Although I am not Catholic, I always respected the idea of the confessional, if not the easy absolution. I share many of my secrets with my cat!

I think sometimes secrets are better being kept if it will do more harm than good. Or if the outcome of telling the secret won't have any effect on a person or the situation. I have never kept a secret and wished that I hadn't.