The Truth About Truth

Have you ever been in a situation where you’re absolutely certain you’re right… but someone else is equally certain that you’re not? It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

Here’s the thing though: truth is subjective. What feels true for you might not be true for someone else.

Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “But some things are just facts,” hear me out. Sure, if you’re holding a pen in your hand, you can prove it’s a pen. That’s objective truth. But most of what we argue about in work, life, and relationships isn’t about pens. It’s about perspective.

We all see the world through the lens of our experiences, values, and emotions. What looks like confidence to one person might feel like arrogance to another. What seems like helpful feedback to you might feel like criticism to someone else. It doesn’t make one of you right and the other wrong — it just means you’re standing in different spots, looking at the same thing.

And here’s why that matters. When we get stuck in “my truth,” it’s easy to become defensive, dismissive, or even angry when someone doesn’t see things the same way. But when we shift from truth to perception, we open up space — for empathy, curiosity, and genuine connection.

Here are a few ways to practice that shift:

Practice empathy
Try to step into the other person’s world for a moment. What might be influencing how they see this situation? What past experiences could be shaping their truth?

Ask questions
Instead of jumping in to prove your point, get curious. “How are you seeing it?” or “What makes you feel that way?” can change the entire tone of a conversation.

Stay open-minded
You don’t have to agree with someone else’s view to acknowledge that it exists. Sometimes simply saying, “I can see how you’d see it that way,” can defuse a tense moment.

Check your own filters
We all have biases — it’s part of being human. Take a moment to notice yours. How might they be colouring the way you see things?

Shifting from truth to perception takes awareness and practice, but it’s worth it. It helps you move through disagreements with more grace, see the world through wider eyes, and connect more deeply with others.

So next time you find yourself in a disagreement, take a breath, let go of the need to be “right,” and remember: truth is rarely black and white. It’s all about perception.