And Why That Distinction Matters Now More Than Ever

What People Mean by “My Truth”

When someone says “my truth,” they usually mean:
- “This is what happened to me.”
- “This is how I experienced it.”
- “This is how it felt.”

That’s real. And in many cases, it’s brave to say out loud. People have used “my truth” to talk about abuse, neglect, racism, or betrayal—especially when others tried to deny those experiences.

That's incredibly important, and how we change society for the better. Your voice matters. But that doesn’t mean your experience is the same as truth.

What Truth Actually Means

Truth is not personal.
Truth is what holds up when tested.
It’s what remains true no matter who’s saying it, or how they feel.

Examples of truth:
- Water boils at 100°C at sea level.
- Smoking causes cancer.
- The Earth orbits the sun.
- If someone hits you, that action happened whether you liked it or not.

Truth is something we can observe, examine, and remains the same no matter who tests it, how many people deny it, or how often large systems pretend it isn't true.

So Where Did “My Truth” Come From?

The phrase started out with good intentions.

Decades ago, people who had been ignored or silenced—especially women, people of color, or abuse survivors—started saying things like:

“This is my truth. I won’t stay silent anymore.”

They didn’t mean “this is my version of reality.”
They meant: “This happened to me, and I’m finally telling it.”

But over time, especially with social media and self-help culture, the phrase changed.
It began to mean: “This is how I feel, and you can’t question it.”
Or even: “This is what I believe, and that makes it true for me.”

That’s not how truth works.

Why It Matters

If everyone gets their own version of truth, then:
- No one can be wrong.
- No one can be lied to.
- No one can learn.

And if we stop caring whether something is true—because we’re afraid of hurting someone’s feelings—then:
- Facts disappear.
- Manipulators take over.
- Real victims get ignored, because false claims sound just as strong.

Truth isn’t a weapon. But it is a standard. And without it, we’re lost.

What to Say Instead

It’s important to talk about your experience. That’s how people connect. But try saying:
- “This is what I lived through.”
- “This is how it felt to me.”
- “Here’s what I saw, and how I understood it.”

That keeps your honesty intact—and keeps truth strong for everyone.

Final Thought

Truth isn’t yours. It’s bigger than you.

And that’s a good thing—because it means truth is also strong enough to protect you, even when people don’t believe you at first.