Have you ever been told that the truth is black and white, or that it is universal? Has anyone ever told you that there is only one right answer to every question? When you think about these claims, logically they make sense; after all, two plus two can only equal four. In many cases, these claims can be supported and proved true, but do these claims ring true in everyday real life?

Recently I’ve discovered that there is no such thing as a universal truth. The truth, in our daily lives, is not based on fact; rather, the truth is based solely on what a person experiences. Have you ever thought about how the truth is portrayed in the law system? Innocent people are sometimes convicted and culprits and let free because there is no such thing as the “truth.” There is only the best portrayed version of what the truth could be, it is only the best argument that can be fought that determines in the eyes of the public what the truth really is.

What about relationships? Every argument is caused by two different perceived versions of the truth. Like there are two sides of every story, there can also be multiple versions of the same truth. Your truth could be different from the truth of someone else, because you both have experienced different things. Your truth could be that you played a small joke on someone, while their truth could be that you caused them pain. Your truth could be that you put your everything into making a friendship or relationship last, while their truth could be that you put in no effort at all. The truth is what a person experiences, and two people experience the same event in different ways, with different mindsets. Next time you rush to tell someone that they are wrong, take into consideration that their truth could be different from yours.

Some people consider the existence of a God to be a solid fact, one that becomes the foundation of their lives. Their truth is not wrong because they have experienced such a presence in their lives. Other people consider God to be a fabrication used by people to cope with everyday struggles, and their truth is also not wrong because such a presence has never been experienced by them. So which is true? For each and every single individual person, what they believe is their truth.

We interpret things and events based on past experiences, our own ideologies and emotions, and our position. The truth of one person is not necessarily the truth of another person, which means that what you consider to be a solid fact that cannot be denied may not be as solid to someone else in your life. Be open to the opinions of others. Everyone you meet knows something that you do not know, and this knowledge impacts their perception of the truth. Share your ideas and listen to the ideas of others; maybe your truth will change.