Is Every Contradiction a Hypocrisy?

Contradiction: An act, statement or proposition which denies or negates itself.

Hypocrisy: An act, instance or practice of possessing beliefs, feelings or virtues that one does not possess.

“Be real. Try to do what you say, say what you mean, and be what you seem.”

A few weeks ago, this quote by Marion Wright Eldeman was brought to my attention. And, I have been meditating on this statement since.

I wonder how much complexity is allowed in realness? And, thus, how many contradictions? At what point does a characteristic stop being complex and start being a contradiction, or when do contradictions lead to hypocrisy?

I think that hypocrissy is a character flaw, but complexity is inevitable. Definitely one should do what they say, as a man of his word would. One should say what they mean, as a woman of her word would. But to be what one seems? This seems to be completely out of one's control.

You cannot control other people's opinions of you. Ultimately, others will decide for themselves. Millions are spent each year on advertising, public relations and other related areas in attempt to develop a personal brand. I would be lying if I said these did not work. They do.

But as it is always said, no one will be able to please all of the people, all of the time.

I think it is acceptable to have a separate private and public life. Indeed, I think it is healthy and quite necessary. I think it is acceptable to have secrets- and ultimately, privacy- things that only your spouse knows, only your best friend, only your family. And, indeed these might be different things.

I do not think that any one person should necessarily have to "seem" to be one way to every single person. I don't think people should have to be one dimensional. Of course, one is not going to act the same way in a nightclub that one acts in church; or with friends that one acts with coworkers. I think complexity is acceptable.

What makes complexity healthy and hypocrissy unacceptable?

Honesty, I suppose.

Nonetheless, in all my complexities and contradictions. I will try to do what Eldeman says. First, I will work on doing what I say, and learning how to say precisely what I mean (considering how others can and will interpret my words). As for being what I seem? I can't make any promises.

I've decided that 'what other people think of me is none of my business'.