In as much as knowing the truth is glorified as the ultimate pursuit, I think beyond absolute truth(s), there are myriads of relative truths that carry specific significance.
It's like understanding the world in a nuanced way, knowing that black or white are just extreme polarities, in between both is a spectrum of lived realities.
Sometimes, when I'm in a tough spot in terms of making a decision on a rather difficult situation, the people I talked to about it tend to give me this counsel of speaking my own truth.
For example, I joined this group on philosophical studies, and encountered interesting conflicting views.
What began as simple discussions about classical philosophical concepts gradually evolved into deeply personal explorations of individual truths.
Some members would share how their lived experiences shaped their understanding of reality, which resulted in challenging centuries-old philosophical frameworks. This is all well and good.
A Unique Lens
One particular discussion that has stuck with me was on ethical decision-making.
Because it made me appreciate how each person's background – their culture, upbringing, and life circumstances – created an almost unique lens through which they interpreted moral dilemmas.
I personally tend to lean more towards adhering to universal principles, since they're basic fundamental principles that transcend culture.
But I do understand how others advocate for situational ethics. Life can be far too nuanced for rigid rules and it's quite revealing that even within a group seeking wisdom, truth remained fragmented and multifaceted.
Usually, the point of the matter is either speak my own truth or conform to others' views.
But this dichotomy as mentioned above with the black or white extreme polarity, itself reveals the complexity of our choices, especially from an individual perspective.
Speaking one's own truth comes with its own set of consequences. In this regard, it's misunderstanding or unnecessary criticism from those who hold different perspectives. I feel that even if I had to explain it with enough context, it still wouldn't overcome their pre-conceptions.
Conforming to others' views carries an equally significant cost. Erosion of authentic self-expression and the internal conflict of living according to truths that don't resonate with my deepest understanding, or also the potential regret of not having honored my own insights.
Relative Understanding
No matter how much I ponder about this situation, one of the recurring conclusions I always end up with is this space between absolute truth and relative understanding.
Our individual truth doesn't have to be diluted to fit into someone else's framework, even if we accept that the world mostly operates in shades of gray.
An honest approach could be acknowledging that our own sense of truth might evolve as we gain new perspectives. But before that happens, we have to have the courage to stand firmly in our current understanding of the world as long as it aligns with our inner self.
In practical terms, you'll have to acknowledge without conforming to others' perspectives, provided you decided to not speak your own truth.
But if you speak your truth, then you must be prepared to stand alone(for some time) in your convictions.
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