The truth is the biggest lie we have in our repertoire today, as there is no truth, only viewpoint. Each experience we have is based on our interpretation, which is based on all the other experiences we have had in our lives and each of those experiences is based on the outcome of the previous or current situation, from good to bad to indifferent. So Truth is not always the whole of reality, only our own very limited piece of it.
Case in point: Two people in the same car, driving together down the same road on the same day, and both have completely unique experiences and memories of the situation. One person may say it was the best day ever and the other may say it was the worst day ever. So, truth is completely based on perception, limited to beliefs, and where our attention was at the time.
The truth is not always easy to accept, but it is the only thing that sets us free. Once we realize that truth is limited to beliefs, we can then begin to question those beliefs and see things from a different perspective. This new perspective can be liberating and help us see things in a new light.
So the truth is not always what it seems, it is only what we believe it to be. Our perceptions create our reality and truth is nothing more than a perception. It is up to us to question our beliefs and open our minds.
Our beliefs play a big role in how we see the truth. Our past experiences color our current perception and shape our future interpretation of events. If we've been hurt in the past, we may be more suspicious and less trusting. If we've had positive experiences, we may be more open and willing to see and understand beyond current events.
Truth, therefore, becomes only perception and nothing more. That is why eyewitnesses to an event are so unreliable and each account of a situation is different, not necessarily wrong, just different. Our memory system is comprised of many different factors, including memory bias, false memories, memory errors and many others, where each of these factors plays into what we recall and how we recall it.
Our brains are pre-wired for finding patterns and redundancies in our everyday lives. Psychologists call this memory schema, or memory templates (Alba & Hasher, 1983; Brewer & Treyens, 1981). In fact, this is where expectations are formed, "if that then this, if this then that," and so on, which is why people often mistakenly believe they have seen something that they haven't.
This is also why truth can be so difficult to discern, because it's not always accurate or complete. It's a limited view of reality based on our perception, beliefs, and experiences. When you are tempted to say "that's the truth," remember that it's just your truth, and it may not be the entire story.
Our truth is based on our own individual interpretation. So when we try to force our truth on others or judge them for their truth, we are really only imposing our limited beliefs on them. It can be difficult to discern truth from lies, but it's important to remember that truth is subjective. What may be true for you may not be true for someone else. The best way to live within your own truth is to remain open to all of reality, even if it doesn't conform to your own beliefs.
So, the next time you find yourself in an argument with someone over what is true, remember that there is no such thing as truth, only perception. And perception is based on a whole host of factors, many of which we're not even aware of. So, take a step back, relax, and let go of the need to be right. It's not worth arguing over something that doesn't exist.
This is why visioning is so powerful, and why we can use this to make the brain believe that something has already occurred or that something will be, especially if we put potent emotion around the vision. Visioning is used for amazing results in athletes, in building self-confidence, and in believing we can achieve anything we want.
There is another side of the coin to this ability of visioning as well and is part of the cycle of shaming. There is body shaming, which is behind the diseases of anorexia and obesity, where we can so believe that our vision of our body is true that we can starve ourselves or overeat ourselves to death. Another is living the blaming of others for our misfortune, rather than taking full and unconditional responsibility for ourselves and our actions in all areas of our lives.
The truth is, there is no truth. It is the biggest lie. So where does truth really lie? Somewhere between your desire and information overload. In the end, the truth is what you make it. So, make it something worth believing in.
Sources:
Alba, J. W., & Hasher, L. (1983). Is memory schematic? Psychological Bulletin, 93, 203–231.
Brewer, W. F., & Treyens, J. C. (1981). Role of schemata in memory for places. Cognitive Psychology, 13, 207–230.
Laney, C. & Loftus, E. F. (2022). Eyewitness testimony and memory biases. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from http://noba.to/uy49tm37