The phrase “my truth” is a linguistic retreat. It allows people to avoid the weight of being wrong. It’s a shield against contradiction, a bypass around scrutiny. When truth becomes subjective, discourse dies. What once demanded evidence now hides behind emotion. This fractures shared reality. Truth is not democratic. It doesn’t adapt to belief. It is indifferent to identity, intention, or narrative. It doesn’t care how you feel. Truth is not owned or felt—it is discovered, tested, and upheld. There is no “your truth.” There is only what’s true, and what isn’t. Everything else is mood.
Principle
Without shared truth, there can be no collective action, no trust, no correction. Just echo chambers where everyone’s right, and nothing changes.
Application
TRUTH TRIAGE: Split Every Statement Into One of Three Bins
1. Empirical
Can it be independently verified, disproved, or tested against reality?
→ If yes, it is truth-eligible. Keep it.
2. Interpretive
Is it a framing, hypothesis, or explanation?
→ Treat as a claim. Not yet true. Needs friction.
3. Subjective
Is it a statement of emotion, identity, or experience?
→ It’s real, but it’s not truth. It’s interior. Useful for understanding, not for directing others.
Usage Filter: Ask Two Questions
• Could someone else see this differently without being wrong? If yes, it’s not truth.
• If proven false, would I change my mind? If no, it’s not about truth—it’s belief.
Speaking Rule: Drop Ownership Language
Stop saying:
– “My truth is...”
– “From my lens...” Replace with:
– “Here’s what happened.”
– “This is what the evidence shows.”
– “I felt X. That doesn’t mean X is true.”
Correction Mechanism: Challenge Without Identity
Don’t attack people. Cut the claim.
– Bad: “You’re wrong.”
– Sharp: “That doesn’t match what’s verifiable.”
– Blunt: “That’s belief. What’s the basis?”
Limit / Cost
Relentless truth-seeking can dehumanize. Not all conversations require verification. Truth is directional, but not every moment is a decision point. In trauma, mourning, or art, people speak from pain or beauty, not proof. Demand truth in action. Allow space in feeling. But never confuse the two. When subjectivity governs action, systems collapse. When truth is up for grabs, power decides what’s real. Always distinguish what’s felt from what is. That line is the last defense.