HELP - Can The Truth Really Set Us Free?
69the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...
No, this is not to suggest that my truth should become your truth. Simply, it is to ask your opinion or offer a few thoughts to contemplate the concept that if any part of “what really happened” was revealed from all perspectives, would it free us? If the little secrets or frailties we hide could be easily seen, would our burdens be lighter? If ‘what goes around comes around’, could our justifications cause greater pain in the future? Conversely, if we become ‘masters of disguise’, can we manipulate the world however we want?
If you have ever spent time in a courtroom, this question becomes ever prominent. People swear to do just that: “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” and then proceed unconscionably to lie through their teeth. Do they believe they will escape justice and remain “free”? Was O.J.’s example deemed as verifiable truth that nothing is wrong unless caught? Alternatively, even if caught, are our actions perfectly OK with enough money to buy a new version of truth?
MY ROCK!
Someone recently said the older he gets, the more he believes there is no black or white, only varying shades of grey. I still wonder if his point of view shows greater tolerance and compassion, or is born from his own essential need to squelch unwarranted doubt and judgment thus, muddling his integrity.
True, those who stand on their “I am right” rocks, with clear black or white lenses seem the most impatient and unsympathetic of all. At least though, there are fewer confused, surprising backlashes when dealing with them.
Have you ever been struck with a realization of how your past misinterpretations or mistakes caused others pain? They say the path to failure is paved with good intentions. Once we become more aware and able to see how unruly or selfish we acted, even we have a tough time re-explaining those past grey, muddled “good intentions” don’t we?
The “Upside of Anger” movie shows the full wrath of a woman scorned. Detailed is what each of her children were forced to endure while she “justly” expressed her anger caused by the betrayal of her husband leaving without an explanation. Despite drinking to dull her senses, she maintained her rigid, unyielding expectations of what others were “supposed to do”. Her children attempted to move forward, coping and finding their own paths in life. Unlike the norm in real life, she angrily expressed her dictates, then watched calmly as they did what they wanted anyway. She was too weak and hurt to enforce a foundation that had already crumbled. Would the truth set her free? Would it fit with her version of what was “right”?
just walk away...
Faith and Doubt - hand in hand...
- Lillian Smith Quotes
Lillian Smith: "Faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve".
The man I mentioned earlier harbors a secret that could destroy his career and thus his “truth” remains buried. Those who would destroy him have their own beliefs of how he “should be”, which they deem more true than his hidden reality. Is our integrity then merely another shade of grey if our truth might interfere with our goals?
Through the years, many people, especially my daughter, have chided me for being “too open”, “too honest”, “too trusting”, “too forgiving” and “too determined to see the opportunity of a crisis” (in other words, “too optimistic”). To me these are essential values for integrity, but that is my integrity, not theirs or hers. She believes we ought to just walk away from someone who hurt us or we deem potentially ‘hazardous to our health’ or in the way of our goals. With an additional 30 years of experience on her, I figure I would have to keep walking to the ends of the earth and beyond to avoid such people, confrontations, or “tests”. Yet there is a part of me that questions, is she right? Where is the line?
our level of truth revealed...
What if we all had some sort of history revealing device everyone could view? Would we be ostracized or isolated for our past mistakes and not knowing any better? Today’s teenagers are warned about just such a possibility for the hormonal or immature exploits they post on MySpace, Facebook or any social sites for that matter. Were all potential employers perfect teachers' pets? Moreover, what if the teenagers could as easily view the history of a potential employer? Is there ANYONE they would willingly work for?
So many people struggle to pretend in hopes of portraying how right they are as if “perfect”. As has been written, “I know I know nothing”, the older I get the more imperfect I feel. That is not to say I have not gained wisdom, or that my current definition of perfect does not allow for a lot of leeway [see: You Are Perfect]. It is just an admission that despite what I believe to be true, I accept that I could still be wrong.
Personally, I think it would be great to be able to access “absolute truth” to gauge how aware or unenlightened my actions or thoughts are at any given moment, on any given subject. Would I be judged as “less than” in certain areas? Undoubtedly. Might my reality limit future possibilities? I believe it would close as many doors as it would open. Would I feel as guilty as the woman in the “Upside of Anger” surely did when she found her husband dead at the bottom of an old well on their property? I would hope so. Could I forgive myself and hope that others were equally as forgiving? If such a guarantee existed, this hub would surely be redundant.
One thing I do know for sure, whether we want to believe our secrets are indiscernible or not, the absolute truth is that there are people more aware than we are - in all areas. Through simple exercises such as body language and/or understanding the subconscious mind, many can indeed see our contradictions, results, misinterpretations, mistakes, hurtful behaviors, and levels of enlightenment or awareness in our actions, histories, or words.
Therefore, I ask, if your history, behaviors, or levels of awareness were revealed to the world, would you still feel “right”, or would you be lost in a muddled shade of grey? If blatant contradictions revealed a lack of integrity, would you welcome change? Would the whole truth help you feel less burdened and freer?
Or are you about to walk away?
Integrity guage
Might as well have fun with it - there's no "right or wrong" - depending on our level of awareness :)
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I believe there is Absolute Truth, which we should strongly desire to discover. Gravity is an absolute truth. The Laws of Gravity cannot be true and false at the same time. None of us will ever know all the truth, but that is no excuse to abandon the search to discover as much of it as we are able.
I think the heart of your question seems to be related to the difference between knowing the truth and living it; and whether exposing one's foibles will somehow make them freer. I don't see how. Anyone knows it is wrong to steal but most have taken something they shouldn't have when they knew it was wrong. But this in no way negates the truth that it is wrong to steal. This confirms the truth that human beings always miss the mark, no matter what they know.
Wow! This is a instense hub to digest! Great insights and arguements! I personally do not think a person is defined through what has transpired in there life. Life seems to toss in curve balls even if we feel we are progressing in an integral manner. Yet, also feel that triumphs through adversities are opportunities to rise to another level. Same with what could be seen as poor choices. We have opportunites to change our actions. I would not push to help one see enlightenment. That is a personal choice of each individual. What may be enlightened for me would invariably be different for another. I feel we are blessed with many opprtunities to grow from each other everyday.
I could go on forever here, yet I won't. Thank you for such a well thought and written topic. : )
LOL! I was the stubborn rock for my mum as well!! I am sure it must be tough...my son is still young and adorable. I can surely imagine that it is difficult to see your child making choices you may know are not so great. Yet I believe one needs to experience and feel the consequence in order to find there own truth. All the best.
: )
We all have a choice, total honesty..sometimes this can be harmful to others, integrity is then applied. I think that if you know the truth and do your best by it, no one can ask for more.
Oh no! That is not what I mean. We absolutely should live by it—but with the knowledge that we will all fall short. The striving is required in a good person, IMO.
Thoughtful Hub, and all through it a few of my own beliefs kept cropping up: It has always kind of bothered me that people have that saying about how, when it comes to truth, "there's one side, there's the other side, and then there's the truth". If little Jason is minding his business, and little Freddy comes in and whacks him with a book for no reason there's likely to be a fight. If some adult comes in and uses that "one side/other side" approach to the truth that adult will be very wrong. If Jason said, "I didn't do anything to make him do that" his "side" of the story would be correct.
I find it very disturbing that in courts "the truth doesn't matter, and it only matters who wins" because when the truth is smothered and lies told in order to "save" someone, someone else will become victims of the lies.
I think most people's giant mess-ups that hurt someone else are those "good-intentions" things. People do mean well, and they operate only on what they think (because there's no way to truly know what's right for the other person). As bad as the big mess-ups that hurt someone else are, when they happen because someone truly "meant well", I think require forgiveness. (And I don't think the "guilty person" should have to fear the truth. I think it's still better to be open about a giant mess-up than to create lies to cover it up. Mess-ups are human. Living with a covered up and damaging mess up of someone makes having been "victimized" more difficult. Having it addressed and getting a sincere apology and explanation can give the victim a little "mental peace".
As for me, with the exception of a few stupid screw-ups when I was a kid, I have no problem with being open about my actions. Like most people, there are things I've handled in a way that later turned out to lead to my struggling with guilt over not knowing better; but I wouldn't care who knew those things, because I was in an untenable situation that made making the "perfect" choices impossible.
With regard to the "I'm right" thing, I think people need to use something like courts' rules-of-evidence before being sure they're right. If it's raining out, and they say it's raining out, they know they're right because the evidence is there. If a relative leaves a marriage and someone else says "they weren't willing to put in the effort", that kind of statement is most often an assumption that isn't based on "concrete evidence" - and that's the kind of "right" people need to be wary of.
'Truth' can be very subjective. My truth is not necessarily someone else's...we each will view things based on our conditioning and perspective. What then is the real truth?
Hello, Excellent Job.
I believe honesty along with forgiveness go hand and hand. You could not truly forgive yourself for a mistake if you lied to yourself could you?
I believe Ego prevents a lot of people from being honest. Arrogance along with ego are 2 of our biggest flaws. If someone is arrogant, they could believe they do no wrong. Someone will lie to protect their "image".
I do believe always displaying honesty can keep a clear conscious. If you are constantly lying, guilt will most likely affect your conscious and actions.
"Was O.J.’s example deemed as verifiable truth that nothing is wrong unless caught?"
I believe this is how the majority think. I would relate this to a drunk driver calling the cops to report himself for driving drunk. Not sure if I made any sense, I enjoyed reading though.
Thank You
Hello, Glad I made a little sense, it's been a loooong day.
"That prevents just saying what I think someone wants to hear as well."
This you just stated may be the "biggest root" of why people lie. Some will sacrifice pride for false glory.
One way that we do have a "truth button" is reading facial expressions. Unless someone is schooled on the psychology of public speaking, they will give away the truth without words.
Thank You, I gave a Thumbs Up!
I just figured out the thumbs up thing today. Learn something new each day.
"our "programs" more often rule than our conscious thoughts."
For those who are insane, would you say their "program" has absolute power over their thoughts and logic?
"I believe intention is a key as well." Agreed. It's irrational to expect good results with bad intentions.
Again a wonderful hub, Sem. Each word makes the reader rethink about truth. These words spoke of the voice of my soul:-
"the absolute truth is that there are people more aware than we are - in all areas."
I am going to paste these words on my wall
"
SemPro- Great hub, First of all People with Bipolar can control it, it is the doctors and the pills that makes it worse.
Truth is what an individual's perception of it. Such as OJ, Some people whouldn't know the truth if it slapped them in the face. We have to make a choice to be the few who still believe that the truth will set us free. Although, it is hard sometimes to tell the difference.
dori
Glad you said it. I believe it's very true but wouldn't want anyone to toss their drugs without having taken many steps to already ensure mental strength and a degree of success.
I must say, I am supposed to take anti-depressants everyday. I do not take them like I am supposed to. I am the most analytical person I know. I have analyzed every thought in search of my unhappiness. The root continues to evade me. When I am not on my "happy pills", I am a wreck to be around. I am highly irritable, I am not happy with life. It's hard for me to be happy with something when I cannot find ultimate point. When on the pills, they help around 50% with my thoughts. The pills blind the reality I see to an extent. They allow me to focus more on the good parts of life and takes away my focus on the bad parts. I do believe medicine is needed in some cases, I just believe it's often misdiagnosed for some.
Sem, I was just referring to myself about the bipolar bit, the truth is people ar over medicated and it wasnt until I learned Good coping skills before I decided to quit taking all the meds that were too dangerous anyway. The truth set me free, I was a walking zombie.
dori
Hello,
"Then, when down, head to the long list of positives and pick one"
When I am down, I tell myself to stop whining and realize how easy I have things compared to others. Reminding myself to be appreciative, this only works to an extent. I still cannot find happiness when I cannot find point. Maybe when I determine point, things will be better.
Thanks for the kind words.
Hello Sem,
"I still cannot find happiness when I cannot find point."
I have too many unanswered questions. Why were we created? What is ultimate point of life?
When you used the gardening example, this was very helpful. I was at a point where I was going to the gym on a daily basis. Lifting weights took my mind off of my questions. This posed the question: If I'm doing things to ease my mind from thinking of the unknown, maybe it will allow me to be more appreciative of the known. If I focused on easing mind from thinking, would I not be limiting my mind? These are the circles I run.
"I knew I needed a daily reminder to "be" balanced - to get off the merry-go-round once in awhile and simply feel grateful and tranquil."
Truly excellent words. Your perspective has shown me the importance of "moderation". This is the reason I value all perspectives. What I may not see others may see, What others may not see, I may see.
Your words are much appreciated, Thank You.
Truth is sometimes I dont know what is true and what is not true anymore, sure did enjoy the hub though.... brilliant
I am a born again Christian and I know that Jesus' Truth has set me free and all others who follow after Him. Come see my hubs if you like. Someone told me you have Lupus too.
You are right in what you say.. One commentary I would like to add is that although the truth can set you free, quite often life gets in the way and it takes a lot longer to realize that you are free, but when you do....What a Glorious Feeling!!!!
Realizin the truth only could be achieved when a person has slowed down in his life and takes time to contemplate. The lives that we live in this tech era, is ever fast and changing. They call it IT era because of 'Infinite Travelling' and thus people lost themselves in it.
Thanks for this.
Thank you for this thought provoking Hub. I am a seeker of Truth and seek the absolute truth on every subject and level. I'm a true believer in the Word of God and try to live daily by His precepts set for us in Biblical Scripture. I'm sure if you've read my Hubs, you know this already. But the verse "The Truth Will Set You Free;" is referring to Jesus as "The Truth." As it states in John 8:32;
"I am the Way, Truth and Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
By the acceptance and belief in Jesus Christ, and by reading His Word, as it states John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14.) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," Which of course refers to (Jesus). Do we fully understand "Truth." As the Word is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is the discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart." He is the Light of the World, and if we live in His light, His Truths are revealed to us without question.
The world at large has provided their own precepts and versions of truths by which we should live, with disregard to God's Truth and Wisdom. And this is why I believe that many only see truth through a poor reflection as through a glass, darkly; 1 Cor. 13:12, as many are living by their own standard of truth which is not truth at all, but deception. Thank you SEM Pro for posting this Hub, and I am sorry; I did not mean to preach.....as it is not my nature to preach on other's Hubs, but for some reason this particular post ignited a flame. I pray you do not de-friend me after this. Peace n' Blessings!! `K
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
I am glad I was made free and not set free.
















roseflr 2 years ago
This article certainly contains a lot to think about. As for my past mistakes, I hid certain things for a long time until I realized the truth of Maya Angelou's statement, which roughly quoted, goes: I did the best I could at the time, and when I knew better, I did better."