“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” ~Henry David Thoreau
In our current age of alternative facts and fake news, truth can be difficult to discern.
Even the word itself—truth—is open to interpretation and faulty execution.
Who hasn’t heard (or uttered) the words, “Well, the truth of the matter is…”
The ‘truth’ that follows that preamble is most likely an opinion, an assessment made on data collected over time.
Yet, two people can view the same set of events, take away different impressions, come to wildly different conclusions, and it will be the ‘truth’ – for each of them.
The kind of truth I’m talking about here, though, has less to do with universal truths and more to do with personal truths, the stories we tell ourselves to protect us—that prevent us—from looking into a mirror.
Someone once said, “the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.”
I think it’s the “pissed off” part that people want to avoid, and I believe there is a very good reason for that: truth demands accountability.
It demands a turning around, and looking long and deep into a mirror.
When we start telling the truth to ourselves, about ourselves, about the choices we’ve made and their effects, about the people we either were, are, or want to be, we begin to act like owners of our lives instead of renters.
That means that when something breaks down, it’s our responsibility to address it.
Blame is convenient, but it is costly in the long run; it’s like dressing up a mannequin and pretending it’s human. It’s not the real thing.
How do you know truth when you see/hear/ it?
It’ll probably piss you off a bit.
And that’s okay. In fact, it’s necessary; it’s the first step on the ladder of change.
Because truth is the key to unshackling yourself: from unhealthy relationships, ineffective behavioural patterns, and triggered responses.
And that’s as important to your long-term well-being as any investment portfolio ever could be.
“The truth can walk naked, but a lie always needs to be dressed.” Kahlil Gibran
