your experience is real, but it is not always the truth in a universal sense.

We live in an era where phrases like “Speak your truth” or “That’s just my truth” are thrown around with ease and applause. On the surface, these words sound empowering — liberating, even. But when you dig a little deeper, they often reveal a deeper conflict: the tension between subjective experience and objective truth.

Let’s be real — everyone has a perspective, everyone has their own truth, shaped by upbringing, emotions, culture, trauma, or triumph. That’s valid. Your story, your feelings, your lens — they matter. But we must ask: is there still “the truth” and does having a perspective mean you get to redefine what truth is?

Truth vs. Experience

Let’s clarify something: your experience is real, but it is not always the truth in a universal sense.

For example, let’s say two people walk into a chilly room. One says, “It’s cold in here,” and the other says, “It’s not cold at all.” Both statements are based on personal perception — but the thermostat says 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The truth is the actual temperature. How each person feels about it? That’s subjective.

So when someone says, “My truth is that I’m being mistreated,” we must dig deeper. Are they being mistreated, or do they feel hurt by a decision or consequence they didn’t like? Feelings are important, but truth must be rooted in facts, not just emotions.

Candid Examples:

1. Relationship Drama:
She says, “My truth is that he never loved me.”
He says, “My truth is that I did everything I could to show love.”
The actual truth? It may lie somewhere in between — or in actions and choices that can be measured and examined objectively. Love isn’t just about feelings; it’s shown through consistent, sacrificial behavior.
2. Academic Integrity:
A student gets caught plagiarizing and says, “My truth is I was just inspired by someone else’s work and didn’t know I had to cite it.”
The truth? The work wasn’t original, and proper citation was part of the academic guidelines. Intentions don’t override established facts.
3. History and Culture:
Some people try to revise historical events to suit a narrative.
“My truth is that colonization wasn’t all bad.”
While there may have been developments (e.g., infrastructure), the truth includes exploitation, oppression, and displacement. History doesn’t bend to feelings; it stands on evidence.

Why Absolute Truth Matters

Imagine if gravity were subjective. You believe you’ll float off a building because it’s “your truth”? Reality won’t consult your perspective before handing you the consequences.

In law, science, and even morality, there must be agreed-upon standards or society breaks down. If we each define our own version of truth, how do we correct injustice? How do we hold anyone accountable?

But Wait—Is There Room for “My Truth”?

Yes, when it refers to your journey, your feelings, or how something impacted you. “My truth” can be a way of saying, “This is what I lived through, and this is how it shaped me.” That’s fair. But it becomes dangerous when it overrides evidence, challenges facts, or demands others accept it as universal reality.

Personal truth can easily drift into relativism, where right and wrong are self-defined, and nothing is sacred — only self-centered.

The Spiritual and Philosophical Reality Behind “My Truth”

From a spiritual perspective, truth is not fluid. It is fixed, rooted in God, and unchanging. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He doesn’t say a truth, one of many. He says the truth — definite, singular, unwavering.

That’s not just religious language. It’s a philosophical anchor. Without objective truth, morality becomes negotiable, justice becomes selective, and righteousness becomes opinion-based.

The Danger of “My Truth”

I believe that when people say “my truth”, they often mean, “my experience” or “how I feel/felt.” That’s valid in terms of expression, but dangerous when used to claim authority. Personal truth can easily drift into relativism, where right and wrong are self-defined, and nothing is sacred — only self-centered.

Let’s look at this philosophically:

Subjective truth is built on emotion and perspective.

Objective truth is built on facts, logic, and moral absolutes.

Imagine if Cain said to God after killing Abel, “But that’s my truth — I felt justified.”
God didn’t accept Cain’s feelings as truth. He held him accountable to divine standards, not personal perception.

Truth is the foundation of justice, the compass of morality, and the measure of our walk with God.

A Hard Truth: Feelings Aren’t Facts

You may feel unloved — but that doesn’t mean you are.
You may feel right — but that doesn’t mean you are righteous.
God’s truth often corrects, convicts, and cuts before it heals.

That’s why Scripture tells us the Word of God is “sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Truth isn’t always comfortable, but it is always necessary.

Truth and Accountability

Truth is the foundation of justice, the compass of morality, and the measure of our walk with God. When Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), he echoed a question many still ask. But truth was standing right in front of him — and he missed it.

Likewise, in our pursuit of “being heard,” we must not drown out the still, small voice of God, which often calls us back to the truth we don’t want to hear, but desperately need.

In Conclusion

Truth is not a shapeshifter. Truth is not subjective. Truth is not owned, neither is Truth invented.

Truth is sacred. Truth is revealed.
Truth is discovered, often in God’s Word and in the stillness of honest reflection.

Truth may be uncomfortable, inconvenient, or even painful, but Truth is absolute.

Our perspectives may differ, but truth — real truth — is rooted in facts, context, and reality. If we continue to elevate “personal truths” above universal standards, we risk replacing accountability with entitlement.

So yes, honor your story. Speak your experiences. Speak your journey. But let’s not confuse personal perception with absolute truth. One uplifts; the other misleads. Also, let them (your story, experiences, or journey) be filtered through faith, aligned with Scripture, and tested by truth — not just your emotion.