There is a phrase ‘The simple truth is…’ and what follows is usually expected to relate to a fact, something obvious, physical, logical and real. Though perhaps it is not so simple after all, when we consider our truth there are other factors to contemplate.
Our perspective, our values and our belief system all make up what is our conscious reality and build our own individual viewpoint on life. In simple terms my blue is not necessarily your blue. When we look up at the summer blue sky without a cloud on the horizon then we may not be seeing, experiencing the same colour and our perspective of the surroundings may be very different. I may find it beautiful, and you may be feeling something is lacking, perhaps the landscape needs a few wispy clouds to break up the expanse of blue. We would certainly have common ground unless of course one of us is sight impaired and then the perspective changes again. For other senses would take the lead.
Our environment as we grow from child to adult in the physical world helps format our perspective, what we are used to, what we like, what we don’t like. As we become an independent adult with more of our own experience of the world, we develop different or more broadened perspectives. It is also interesting that as we develop physically and mentally our energetic anatomy is also developing too. Each of the chakras develops at a certain stage coming to its full energy at stages which overlap with this physical development.
So, how we become who we are in the physical world and the combined light energy we carry in our souls offers us great scope for developing our truth and revealing and being our true self.
In some instances, we can say truth is truth… the cat did eat the tuna left out for my lunch… The tuna is gone, the cat is licking its whiskers, sitting satisfied on the kitchen counter and there seems a simple explanation. Many situations may not be as clear-cut and this is where we must discern the information we are taking in, judge it wisely and decide what to do with it. Each decision we make adding to our human experience and ultimately our soul growth.
In life, we experience many feelings, emotions and aspects and it is this ultimate mix of every piece of physical life which enables us to evolve our souls. We throw out what doesn’t sit right with us and what isn’t in alignment with our true self, however even what we throw away has served a purpose and goes towards our soul growth. We keep what feels good and is true to us. Or do we?
Yes, we do on our energy level because instinctively we know when something feels right or if a situation makes us uneasy, but do we live by that? Do we make our everyday choices by this instinctive gut feeling or do we react to what is put in front of us without question and take it on as truth?
Every one’s truth is part of their unique perspective and as such has a value. However, by the same Divine right we must acknowledge that everyone has a different unique truth, remember my blue may not be yours. Though as part of human existence and built-up social norms we do all have an overlap and that is probably where the common simple truth lies.
Our own unique truth can only have value to us as an individual because we have all trodden a particular experiential path and as such that is our unique perspective. Therefore, our truth, what we align with can only be ours. We can express this belief, this truth as openly as we would like as part of our human experience however like all spiritual laws there are rules. We must take personal responsibility for the truth we speak, the truth we listen to and take to our hearts and the truth we reflect out to the world in our being.
In truth, mine of course, the idea of truth then does not stand alone it has two very important companions sitting alongside it, discernment, and responsibility. Your truth has value but so does mine and my neighbour’s. The truth today may be different tomorrow and YOUR truth today may have been mine in a different time and place and now I have shifted, moved forward, and discerned that things change, and my viewpoint moves along with that change.
So perhaps it also has a few more friends too, change, an ever changing perspective as we learn more about our experiences and ourselves. We need to be responsible for our truth and its delivery also allowing others to speak their truth even if it doesn’t sit well with us. This listening process helps us decide whether we have the same truth or not.
Above all we have to have a kind ear and a thoughtful expression when we disagree and that way keep the lines of communicating truth well and truly open. There is a lovely one-page story, author unknown, I read recently called The Three Sieves which was included in the book ‘Wisdom Stories’ compiled by Margaret Silf.
It was about a young girl Janice who came running into her grandma’s house eager to relate something she was “…dying to tell”. Grandma broke in with a wise smile and simply says “Whatever it is you want to tell me, have you shaken it through the three sieves?” Janice was puzzled but her grandma goes on to say the first is the sieve of truth. “Have you thought about whether what you are going to tell me is true?” Janice replies that someone told her, and she wasn’t sure. Grandma having received an honest answer goes on to ask Janice “…is it at least something good?” Janice lowers her eyes and says that it was quite the opposite. Grandma concludes with the third sieve since the story was possibly not true and not good, she finally asks Janice “…is it at least necessary?” Janice discerns that no it is not exactly necessary. After a hug grandma simply says that “… if it is neither true, good nor necessary I suggest we bury it deep in the ground of forgetfulness where it won’t cause any heartache to anyone ever again.”
We could hold this wisdom in mind when considering our truth. My truth may not be yours, but I respect your right to speak it. We all have a truth, a perspective; it is what makes life interesting and diverse. In this world where we have developed an incredible move forward in ways, we can communicate all over the world we must remain discerning, responsible and kind.
Perhaps also looking at how we express our truth, the intention behind the delivery, the timing too.
When we are in alignment with our true self, we have no need to be right, we can express our viewpoint, listen to others and accept or refuse their truth too without attachment, knowing they are on their own unique path of growth and their truth is simply part of that.
The simple truth then is a perspective that is always changing, part of the human condition and process of evolution and we get to fully participate in that finding and reflecting our true self. If this is done with discernment, responsibility, love and compassion humanity can, I believe, truly reach its full potential.
Patricia McDowall
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