Truth about the Truth

What is the truth? It is defined as that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.

I spend a lot of time hunting out the truth for myself and for my clients.  If you aren’t sure what is true for you, you are going to find it very difficult to set desirable goals and achieve them.

In the hunt for truth, I have found that the truth is very hard to pin down because a fact or reality can be seen as true or false for different people based on their own values, perspectives and experiences.

What may be true for you may be not true for someone else.  This is something that is widely accepted but where things become grey is when two people are looking at the same situation and evaluating it differently.

An example of this would be if Person A believes Person B “takes too many risks”.  Person A believes this as completely true.  Whereas Person B thinks they take the exact right amount of risks and they have seen how it has benefited them in their career.

Both people see what they think as truth - and neither are wrong.  The difference is based on their own values, perspective and experiences.

Similarly if you have ever been called a “control freak”, whereas you see yourself as “organised”. Or perhaps someone has said you are “bossy” but you see yourself as “taking charge when others don’t step in”.  The point is that we can all perceive facts and reality differently and this leads to discrepancies between what we deem the truth.

The interesting thing is that the definition isn’t as important as the evaluation.  In working out if something is true or not for you, it is better to think of whether or not the evaluation serves you.  Does it serve you to think of yourself as a “control freak” or have you reaped the benefits of being “organised” and feel like you have the exact right mix.

So next time you are seeking the truth, don’t get hung up on the definition or the discrepancies you may have with the people around you.  Instead look at how each version of the truth serves you, which is right for you.  Then use that evaluation to determine your decisions and actions.

In determining the truth that works for you, you will be clearer on your goals, your actions and your path forward and in the end that is what matters.