In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: The best way to prove to someone that you are not lying is to offer the person evidence that directly contradicts the claim. If you can think of any way to demonstrate your truthfulness, do so by backing up your statements with credible proof. However, in some cases, it may be impossible to show evidence that you're not lying. For example, you can show evidence by producing paperwork, such as time-stamps or receipts. If your girlfriend accuses you of being out with someone else on Tuesday night, it can prove your innocence by showing a time-stamp that you were using a computer in the college library until 3am. Social proof is the concept of using others' opinions or beliefs to influence a person's decisions or behaviors. If there isn't any physical evidence, you may be able to convince the person by employing someone (or several people) who can testify to your innocence. For example, if your mom feels certain that you were not at a friend's house, but had snuck out to a party, you can back up your story by asking your friend's parents to testify on your behalf. If two adults--and seemingly trustworthy people--say that you were definitely at their house, your mom is more likely to believe you. A method often employed by law enforcement is the process of making a suspect repeat a chain of events in reverse to see if this version of a story will be consistent with the original version. Tell the person to ask you about what happened by starting at the end. If you are lying, you are more likely to screw it up or show inconsistencies by telling the story backwards. Explain to the person who is accusing you of being a liar: "I wouldn't lie to you, I promise." Hopefully, if the person has any faith in you, or you haven't already damaged the trust previously, she will believe that you are being honest.  If you have a particularly spotless history with this person, you could add to the promise by offering them examples of ways you have been honest and trustworthy in the past. For example, you might say "I have never lied to you. Remember, that time when everyone else wasn't being straightforward with you, and I did?" Be careful with this method, though, because some people will think you are manipulating them by making a false promise. Research shows that liars often talk in more complex sentences than people who are telling the truth. Even if you are telling the truth, speaking in complex sentences can make it seem like you are covering something up or being evasive. Strive for clear, simple, and concrete sentences with a moderate level of detail. You might tell your girlfriend, "No, I was not with anyone last night. I was at the computer lab on campus. I can show you my time-stamp." rather than "Oh, what are you talking about? I would never do anything like that to you. I love you so much. Who could I have been with? Why don't you trust me?" All the extra questions and miscellaneous information sheds doubt on your honesty. Another science-tested characteristic of liars is the tendency to repeat a questions before providing an answer. Avoid this at all costs. If you didn't clearly hear a question ask the person to repeat it himself. Repeating it from your own mouth makes it seem like you are delaying your response so you can think up an answer. An example of this happening in action could be demonstrated in this way: Your partner asks "Where were you last night?" If you say "Where was I last night?", pause, and then add "I was in the computer lab doing work," this seems less than honest because of the need to hesitate before providing your answer.
Summary: Provide evidence of what happened. Use social proof. Repeat the chain of events in reverse order. Make a promise. Keep your words simple. Avoid repeating questions before answering them.

Problem: Article: We usually think of luck as something that's out of our control, expecting something or someone to descend on us from the clouds and improve life for us. But fortune and fame don't come to the passive. Waiting around for luck instead of creating it for yourself can create negativity and resentment, forcing you to see other people's good fortune as the result of good luck rather than good choices. Think of luck as an emotion, more than a certificate or a ticket that gains you access to some exclusive club. Just as you decide to be happy, you can decide to be lucky and become willing to change your behaviors and create opportunities for success yourself, rather than waiting for changes to happen. If you're busy waiting for things to be perfect, you're going to wait a long time. Learn to recognize opportunities when they arise and improve your chances by embracing the opportunities you do have. If you get a big project at work you feel unprepared to tackle, you could either consider that a stroke of bad luck, gripe to your coworkers, and make excuses for yourself, or you could consider it an opportunity to shine in a big way. Think of it less as having to do with luck and more as an opportunity to succeed. As you get older, it becomes easier to become stuck in your ways. Repetition and habit is comfortable, but learning to accept the possibility of making change, even small change, will keep you receptive to opportunities and luck that presents itself.  Learn to take criticism and to use it as an opportunity for improvement. If your boss criticizes something you worked hard on, consider yourself lucky. You know how to do better next time. If you bomb on a date that goes horribly, use the experience as a dress rehearsal for your next date. What seemed to go wrong? What can you do differently next time? " When something goes right for you, embrace it. Keep yourself humble, but learn to enjoy little wins and little successes to keep yourself positive, motivated, and happy.  "Wins" don't even have to be a big deal. Maybe you made the best spaghetti bolognese you've ever made last night for dinner, or maybe you're feeling proud for getting out and going for a run when you didn't really feel like it. Celebrate! Don't compare your success to the success of others. It's easy to get down on yourself by minimizing your successes, saying, "Yeah, so I got a bonus at work. My friend Bill invented the most popular iPhone app of all time." So what's that got to do with you? Over time, we've learned to make automatic decisions and reactions that keep us locked in feedback loops of behavior. We're often not conscious of the decisions we make, and certain status-quo elements of our life that may seem unchangeable are really easy fixes, once you recognize your behavior patterns. Maybe you always turn down after work drinks. Give it a shot next week. If you always feel the need to head out with your coworkers as soon as 5 o'clock rolls around, consider heading to the gym instead and lifting weights for an hour or two. Identify your patterns and shake them up. Lucky people are people we all like to be around, because the wealth seems to benefit everyone. Become the kind of person people want to get a piece of by being more positive and generous with the success you do have.  Make a point of congratulating others when they do a job well, or when something good comes their way. A little note of congrats can go a long way. Volunteer your skills, even with small things. If you're wondering why nobody is clamoring at your door to help you move, try to remember all the moves you've flaked out on over the years. Next time, volunteer your afternoon and your truck and see if your luck doesn't change.
Summary:
Define luck for yourself. Take advantage of opportunities. Be open to change. Embrace "small wins. Avoid behavior loops. Be positive and generous with your time.