First off lets talk about truth versus fact.  

Many of us think that the truth would be easy to recognize. Undebatable.  Actually the truth is more like one of those shape-shifting aliens in the X files. It somehow manages to be a whole bunch of different things —  even opposite things — at exactly the same time.

To me, and for tonight, for all of you, here are my definitions:

A fact is something easily verifiable and agreed to by 99.9% of humanity. 

A truth can be a perceived fact seen thru a lens.  What may be a truth to me, may be far from a truth to you.  A truth is a deep, heartfelt belief.  A truth can be formed by your life experiences.  A persons truth is as unique as a person.  

In short, a person is the collection of all their truths. This is your authentic self, your true home.  When you are living according to your collection of truths, you are at peace with yourself. Maybe not with others, but defiantly with yourself. 

So now let’s talk about living our truths.  First, let’s talk about what if we lived in the perfect world.  In this world we are strong and confident.  A world without consequences.  A world where your could actively live your authentic life 100% of the time.

Even here, it takes strength and courage to admit the truth and even more to live it.  Or said another way, to live your authentic life means to live with personal integrity.

‘Simply put, Integrity is telling myself my truth, and then living it.

When you are living your authentic life, living your truths, you are expressing love for yourself.  You are treating yourself with respect and love.  Something we don’t do enough of in our daily lives.

Always remember, loving others is a choice but loving yourself is a responsibility.  Our primary responsibility.  Act in a way that your authentic self approves of.  Act in a loving way to yourself and your truths. 

Living your truth is healing. Not living your truth is divisive.  Not just to others, but also yourself.  Most lies hurt you much more than they hurt others.  They internally divide you.  Every additional lie fractures your soul further.  Eventually, it becomes impossible to keep track of the lies and to hold together all the shattered pieces of your soul. The truth is much easier to keep track of.  Even if it is more painful to admit in the moment.

All that said, we do not live in a perfect world.  But how do we fit our authentic self into a divisive world?  We must recognize that, while being honest and truth telling to yourself is good, it is also not going to work out perfectly in the imperfect world that we live in.  

Incorporating some known boundaries into your life are necessary.  You do not need to go to the highest hill and scream all your truths to the masses to be truly your authentic self.  There are consequences to being 100% truthful 100% of the time.  To avoid most of these consequences, we must recognize and accept a few boundaries to shield our authentic selves from our imperfect world.  As long as those boundaries are consistent, over time they too will become part of your authentic self.

There are a few, very few people I relax these boundaries around.  But I am quite practiced and can go behind or come out from behind these boundaries quite easily.  Sort of like having my authentic self, and a slightly different other version of my authentic self.

Our biggest fear is not expressing our truth, but that we will be attacked or belittled because of our truth.  The world is on fire right now.  We are more divided as a nation that we have been in a very long time.  And many are so dug into their positions, that there is no hope for civil discourse.  For many, the line between a person’s truth and a fact, is practically nonexistent. 

Just because a lot of people are saying the same thing loudly over and over, doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Even when the masses are screaching, Don’t bend; don’t water your truths down.  Especially don’t edit your own soul according to what someone else says. 

And when and where it is appropriate, be your authentic self.  Around friends, voice your truths.

You, your authentic self, your truth is in here, not out there.  They do not define who you are, you do.  In here is your home, your safe space, your true identity. Lying, not living your truth, only splinters your soul.  And if your soul is splintered enough, your truth starts to disappear, only to be replaced by a hollow shell of lies.  At this point, it is almost impossible to see your authentic self.

Live your truth, as much as you can.  Erect as few boundaries to your truth as is possible.  Make them small.  Do not be that person that has to constantly wonder if your friends like the real you, or they like the person you seem to be around them.  In the long run, that never works, better to be truthful from the start.  That way you know.

Just remember, the truth, your truth, is in here.