The Elusive Nature of Truth: A Personal Journey Beyond Definitions

One of the truths that took me years to accept was that I had no idea what truth actually was. When I was younger, I believed that truth was something objective, something you could pin down if you searched hard enough. But over time, I realized that the very concept of truth was far more complex than I imagined.

Throughout history, humanity has been known to package ideas and place them on pedestals—as objects to admire or even worship. Yet, in doing so, we may miss the vital lessons that lie beyond our limited perspectives. What’s fascinating about truth is that it doesn’t change; it’s constant. What does shift, however, is our interpretation of truth, shaped by personal experience, culture, and even current events. And often, we use our version of the truth to influence or control others. But truth itself is something altogether different—an ungraspable concept that I, even now, can only barely understand.

Understanding Perspectives: Is Truth Ever Singular?

As human beings, we see the world from countless perspectives, each one filtered through our unique life experiences. It’s easy to view truth as something black and white, but the universe seems to operate in shades of gray. A poignant example from science comes to mind: theories in physics or biology are often considered definitive until new research reshapes them. When I was in school, for instance, we learned that certain scientific theories were indisputable, only to hear years later that new discoveries had revised them.

This process highlights an important question: if our understanding of facts can shift, then how can we claim to know what is absolutely true? Imagine the process of scientific discovery, where new ideas are constantly being tested and reevaluated. It’s a reminder that truth isn’t static. So, what does it mean to approach truth when our own perspectives are constantly evolving?

Practicing Non-Judgment: A Gateway to Understanding Truth

One way to approach truth is through practicing non-judgment. This concept has been pivotal in my own journey. I once had a friend who, on the surface, seemed deeply self-centered. I judged him for this, only to later discover that his behavior stemmed from childhood experiences that left him feeling unworthy. The more I got to know him, the more I realized that my judgment had prevented me from understanding his reality.

When we choose to label or define things, we often reshape them to fit into our understanding without exploring their deeper essence. Faced with new ideas, we might try to force them into familiar boxes. But when we practice non-judgment, we allow these ideas to reveal themselves as they are. This doesn’t mean that wanting to transform or improve things is inherently wrong; in fact, transformation is a foundational part of growth. But there’s wisdom in simply observing before attempting to reshape, to better grasp what truly lies beneath the surface.

Question for Reflection: Have you ever judged a situation or person prematurely, only to later realize there was much more to understand? How might non-judgment open up new possibilities in your life?

Duality and Complexity: Exploring the “Both-And” of Life

The idea that truth is either/or—either good or bad, right or wrong—often limits our understanding. Life is rarely that simple. Consider Schrödinger’s cat, a thought experiment in quantum mechanics that illustrates duality. In this experiment, a cat is placed in a box with a mechanism that has a 50% chance of killing it. Until someone opens the box to observe the outcome, the cat is considered both alive and dead. It’s a strange concept, but it shows how two opposing states can coexist until one is observed.

What does this mean in our everyday lives? Sometimes, we encounter situations that are both painful and transformative, or relationships that are both fulfilling and challenging. This dual nature is part of life, yet we often resist it, clinging to fixed ideas of what should be. Embracing duality allows us to acknowledge that life’s outcomes are fluid and can evolve over time.

Some might argue that we need certainty to function—that if we accepted every possible outcome, we’d be paralyzed by indecision. And while there’s truth in that, recognizing duality doesn’t mean abandoning all convictions. Instead, it means remaining open to the idea that life can be more than one thing at a time.

Question for Reflection: Can you think of a time when something was both “good” and “bad” at once? How did accepting this complexity impact your understanding?

The Unchanging Nature of Absolute Truth

One of the most intriguing ideas about truth comes from the Christian Bible in Revelation 21:16. Here, a city is described as a perfect square, equal in length, breadth, and height. This verse implies that truth, like this city, remains the same no matter the perspective from which it’s viewed. In other words, truth is unchanging and absolute, existing independently of our interpretations.

To me, this suggests that truth becomes clearer the closer we get to our authentic selves. It’s why many of us struggle to sit quietly in our own company. Without distractions, we’re left with unfiltered reality—and sometimes, that’s uncomfortable. Truth demands acceptance, not just understanding, and that’s often the hardest part.

The Void Within: Facing Our Deepest Fears

While I don’t claim to know the absolute truth, I have a hunch that much of what we focus on—our identities, accomplishments, even our fears—is only a part of a larger, often ignored picture. I think back to times in my life when I tried to fill a void within me with external achievements, thinking they’d bring fulfillment. But that emptiness remained.

This void may, in fact, be part of truth itself—a space not meant to be filled but experienced. Perhaps we fear this emptiness because it feels vast and endless, yet within it lies a sense of peace and understanding we might not find elsewhere. Instead of trying to escape it, what if we approached this emptiness with curiosity?

I once spent a week in complete solitude, hoping to find some grand realization. Instead, I encountered silence and discomfort. But in those quiet moments, I started to understand that the emptiness itself held value. I didn’t need to escape it; I needed to sit with it. And in doing so, I found a deeper, more enduring sense of self.

Question for Reflection: When you feel a void within, how do you respond? What might happen if you faced it instead of trying to fill it?

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Relationship with Truth

So, what is it that we truly fear? The next time you encounter that fear, consider it an opportunity. It’s possible that what we avoid is the very part of us that holds the key to greater understanding and healing. If there’s one area of your life that could use more attention, what would it be? And how might approaching it with acceptance bring you closer to your own version of truth?

Reflecting on these questions can open a path to understanding and growth. Truth may be elusive and complex, but perhaps it’s not something to define or capture—only to experience as fully as possible.