Larger Visions Blog

The Practice of Truthfulness

The Practice of Truthfulness

From Knights to Sages, truthfulness has been a trait that has been honored and respected throughout time. Truthfulness is to be honest and trustworthy. It is to be committed to speaking and acknowledging the truth, and to acting with integrity. When we have our truth we also have respect and love. Truth does not disregard the thoughts and feelings of others or our selves. Nor does it preclude love, such as one is brutally truthful. While philosophically there are many types of truth, the truth that is being spoken of here has a dynamic holism that is much more easily experienced than written about.

Here are three ways to practice truthfulness in your life:

Know your truth: In our quest for our own truth, how does one tell the difference between a more superficial sense of truth and a deeper sense of truth? Or for that matter, with so many opinions and perspectives how do we even know what our own truth is? In order to speak or live your truth you must first know it. While all the worlds spiritual and psychological practices have been concerned with this in one way or another and it is really not a simple practice at all, a simplified approached can be formed around the practice of curiosity. Be inquisitive –like a child or a teenager—ask questions. Questions like: Do I really feel that way? Why do I feel that way? How did I come to feel or believe this? What is another way to feel or think? Looking at things from a new perspective helps us become more aware of what is true for us and its strengths and limitations.

Speak your truth: Have you ever found yourself in the position of knowing what is true for you but holding it in? Perhaps, you were afraid of the consequences. Perhaps, you felt that you just did not know how to say it in the right way. Speaking ones truth has radical consequences and truthfully these are not always positive. Throughout time people have been killed for speaking their truth. However, while it is possible that this practice might ruffle a few feathers it is also likely to greatly increase your sense of well-being and win you the respect and even friendship of so great people. Learning how to speak your truth is challenging. An easy place to start is with yes and no. Usually there is some place in a persons life where they compromise themselves –they do not act in a way that is right for them for emotional reasons. Look for these times in your life and say yes when you mean yes and say no when you mean no.

Live your truth: Many people talk about not feeling connected to their life. They feel as if they are not really living in a way that is right for them. This is an interesting part of our experience as people; we can feel separate even from our selves. In order to practice living your truth, you can ask yourself how happy you are with different aspects of your life, for example your job, your relationships, and your personal time. Pick an area where you are not completely satisfied with what you find. Think of one thing that you might do to bring this part of your life into better alignment with who you believe yourself to be. Practice this new approach until it becomes the natural way for you to think and act.

Truthfulness is not a destination we arrive at, it is a practice that we commit ourselves to. Through a sustained effort we can create lives full of integrity that reflect our true selves and their unique insights and gifts.