Keeping secrets can sometimes be a healthy test of loyalty, but they can also\u00a0feel like a burden to such an extent that they end up ruining relationships over time.<\/p>\n
We often test relationships by asking people to keep things between us, but sometimes, asking someone to be secretive isn’t the best test of character. In fact, most people who cannot keep a secret to save their lives have redeeming traits we forget in the aftershock of disappointment when those secrets come to light.<\/p>\n
People who can’t keep a secret to save their own lives often have several redeeming traits that make up for it:<\/h2>\n1. They look out for their people<\/h3>\n
Especially when a secret directly harms someone they love or respect, it\u2019s pretty easy to justify breaking a promise to help the people they love. They look out for their people and have a strong sense of loyalty, and while that might conflict with secrets they promised to keep, in their closest relationships, it\u2019s a superpower.<\/p>\n These people don\u2019t pledge loyalty to others just to keep secrets and gossip behind closed doors.<\/p>\n RELATED: The Art Of Being A Good Friend: 7 Simple Habits Of Naturally Good Friends<\/strong><\/p>\n Someone who struggles with keeping secrets is typically an open book in all parts of their lives. They don\u2019t like hiding things, or rather, they feel like they can\u2019t hide things without being found out.<\/p>\n People like this often cannot mask their authentic body language and nonverbal cues, so they can\u2019t physically hold onto a secret without setting off alarm bells for others. It might be annoying to have your confidential beliefs constantly spread around, but in general, it\u2019s a redeeming trait to be open, expressive, and honest.<\/p>\n Direct communication, even when challenging and uncomfortable, is\u00a0a kindness in most relationships. Even when it sparks a hard conversation or offers something that\u2019s not always easy for anyone to hear, this kind of directness without deceit or avoidance is healthy.<\/p>\n These people aren’t interested in sugarcoating things for comfort or people-pleasing to avoid their own feelings. Their directness isn\u2019t always easy or well-received, but for the sake of understanding and being on the same page, it\u2019s essential for them.<\/p>\n RELATED: 7 Things Highly Intelligent People Do That Make Them Immune To Other People’s Negativity<\/strong><\/p>\n When someone\u2019s easy to read and expresses their emotions transparently, of course, they\u2019re terrible at keeping secrets. They don\u2019t know how to hide or suppress feelings, and when the guilt or shame of holding onto a secret around someone bubbles up, there\u2019s no faking it.<\/p>\n While it might disappoint the person whose secret they\u2019re holding onto when they express it, generally\u00a0expressing how they feel externally is great for their health.<\/p>\n While gossip and certain secrets\u00a0aren\u2019t 100% bad all of the time, many people who struggle to keep secrets prefer to avoid it. Especially when a secret gets wrapped up in another person\u2019s mind games or a manipulative ruse, of course, someone with a moral compass isn\u2019t interested in keeping it.<\/p>\n They don\u2019t want to be involved in deceiving anyone. They care about how a secret might affect someone else, especially if it\u2019s someone they love and trust, and they probably won’t commit to keeping it.<\/p>\n RELATED: 7 Subtle Ways To Detect Someone Is Telling A Bald-Faced Lie, According To Longtime Detective<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if breaking a promise and sharing a secret creates awkwardness, people who\u2019d prefer to be open and communicative can handle it. They\u2019re comfortable with hard conversations. Otherwise, they\u2019d be a lot more intentional about hiding these secrets and issues inside of themselves.<\/p>\n They say what they mean, even if that means having a hard conversation or starting a conflict that requires discomfort to resolve.<\/p>\n When feelings go unspoken and people suppress issues that need to be resolved, they create a breeding ground for resentment. We start blaming others for our inner turmoil and sabotaging our energy, all because we\u2019re afraid of revealing a secret or speaking the truth out loud.<\/p>\n While breaking trust and sharing a secret out loud can be problematic in its own nuanced ways, many people with this consistent struggle can\u2019t handle suppressing anything. They don\u2019t like dealing with tension just because they\u2019re not supposed to bring something up or spark an argument.<\/p>\n RELATED: 7 Struggles Only People Who Suppress Their Feelings Will Understand<\/strong><\/p>\n It often takes a lot more energy to keep up with a lie and be deceitful than it does to just tell the truth. That\u2019s why the kinds of people who are truly protective of their emotional energy aren\u2019t the best at keeping secrets, because they\u2019re not willing to avoid topics and suppress worries to protect someone else\u2019s mind games or manipulation.<\/p>\n Especially when gossip sparks\u00a0negative feelings that only get more contagious the more they\u2019re spread, they\u2019re going to stop a secret in its tracks for everyone\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-who-cant-keep-a-secret-to-save-their-lives-have-actually-redeeming-traits-look-out-for-their-people.png\" "\\"look")
<\/span> PeopleImages | Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/p>\n2. They\u2019re honest<\/h3>\n
3. They say what they mean<\/h3>\n
4. They wear their emotions on their sleeve<\/h3>\n
5. They don\u2019t play mind games with anyone<\/h3>\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-who-cant-keep-a-secret-to-save-their-lives-have-actually-redeeming-traits-dont-play-mind-games-with-anyone.png\" "\\"don't")
<\/span> DexonDee | Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/p>\n6. They\u2019re comfortable with hard conversations<\/h3>\n
7. They avoid resentment<\/h3>\n
8. They protect their energy<\/h3>\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.yourtango.com\/sites\/default\/files\/image_blog\/2026-09\/people-who-cant-keep-a-secret-to-save-their-lives-have-actually-redeeming-traits-protect-their-energy.png\" "\\"protect")
<\/span> Mix and Match Studio | Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/p>\n