Truth-i-ness
With so many voices shouting for attention—online, on social media (which I highly recommend ditching), in conversation—each claiming to know the truth, it might be time to pause and ask: What is truth, really?
I’ve come to see a meaningful difference between truth with a lowercase “t” and Truth with a capital “T.”
The Lowercase truth: “truthiness”
When I think of lowercase truth, I think of what Stephen Colbert famously called “truthiness.” It's not necessarily fact-based, but rather what feels true based on our personal experiences, biases, and worldview. These truths are shaped by what we've lived, what we've been told, and what we want to believe. Think about social media or “news” shows—platforms that often amplify someone's version of truth. This is truthiness: a powerful, emotional sense of rightness that may or may not be supported by evidence. It’s compelling, it’s persuasive—and it’s everywhere. As we grow and learn, we often find that our truths are fluid. What felt true yesterday might no longer fit today. Truth is elusive because our understanding changes. Let’s look at an example from the yoga mat, where the truth is always shifting.
Yoga as a Mirror for truth
In The Fire of Love, yoga teacher Aadil Palkhivala describes how your experience of a yoga pose evolves over time—and so does your understanding of it. He shares this through triangle poses and I have paraphased here.
Think back to your first triangle pose. Maybe you leaned forward awkwardly, trying to touch the floor. It felt hard. Then a teacher said, “You don’t need to touch the floor,” and guided you to rise up, straighten your spine, and lean back slightly. That became your new truth. A few months later, you were encouraged to reach upward, spread your fingers, and expand through the chest. Still later, you were asked to draw energy inward—feet grounding, shoulders drawing in—cultivating a more centered expression of the pose. Each version was true for your body at that moment. As your awareness deepened, your truth expanded. None of these iterations were wrong—they were just layers of understanding unfolding over time.
The Capital “T” Truth
Then there’s Truth—capital T. To me, Truth is the kind of knowing that lives in your bones. It’s not always explainable, but it’s deeply felt. Sometimes it’s the stillness behind your breath, or the inner resonance of a phrase like the “peace that passes all understanding.” So how do you tell the difference between truth and Truth? I’ve learned that my body is the expert witness.
A Simple Exercise in Truth
Here’s a practice I learned from Martha Beck. Try it now:
Close your eyes. Take three deep, clearing breaths.
Say to yourself (in your mind): “I love to vomit.” Notice what happens in your body.
Take three more breaths.
Now say (in your mind): “I am meant to live in peace.” Notice what happens.
When you speak (or hear) a Universal Truth, your body often responds with a sense of relaxation or openness. This is one way to discern Truth from fleeting truths. You can even try this by saying the words “yes” and “no”. The more your practice tuning into your body, the easier it becomes.
Making Space for Both
In a world overflowing with armchair experts and loud opinions, it helps to pause before reacting. Maybe what someone’s sharing is their truth, not the Truth—and that’s okay. It might shift over time, just like your triangle pose. Rather than argue or correct, we can learn to get quiet, go inward, and ask our bodies what’s real. As we do this more often, we begin to hold space—for ourselves, for others, for the gray areas in between. Sometimes in deeply listening, without defense, others begin to relax in our presence. Where there was friction, we find a sense of ease. Once we begin the path of yoga or self-inquiry, we realize: life rarely offers clear black-and-white answers. Everything exists in shades of gray. So widen your eyes, expand your awareness, and stay open. And when all else fails, remember… “I am meant to live in peace.”
