Here is my truth: you can't change the world

If you say you stand for the truth, you may also say you can change the world. But if you are one who frequently says "my truth," then you can't change the world. You can only change your world.

It's easy for the rational mind to reject the phrase "my truth."  But at least a few things really are true for some and not for others; healing from physical maladies or emotional trauma will be different for each person because we are all unique.

Here's an example, however, where it's annoying, from Lucy Ferriss:

Undergrad:  Random-number generators became less random after 9/11 because that trauma shook the consciousness of the world.
Prof: There’s no evidence whatever that random-number generators are any less random than they were before.
Undergrad: That’s my truth. I saw it in Tom Shadyac’s movie.

It appears the undergrad is denying objective reality, or at least is denying the "scientific consensus" in favor of an explanation that makes more sense to him. I could see him meaning one of two things (although more are possible):

First, the facts are indeed objective, but I am right even though normal definitions of evidence don't seem to fit. In other words, it means, "I don't believe it." Or, "Even so, I disagree." Or,"On a deeper level, it's still true that post-9/11 trauma shook the consciousness of the world." The argument is still over "objective" or consensus reality.

Second, the world, or universe, is subjective, and we all experience it differently. You may live in a universe where random-number generators are still random; I do not. Both could be true even though we seem to be sharing the same space as we have this conversation.

If the latter, then, "my truth" is,"this is what I believe is true in the world I inhabit." I'm not dismissing the concept at all.

But if we do live in a subjective world, then your world is yours, and mine is mine. You can't "change the world" through some political action, or tools of persuasion to make people around you more kind, because "the" world doesn't exist.

What you might change, however, is your world. You may go from low states of joy and happiness to higher ones. You may change your surroundings to reflect your preferences. You may treat others as you'd want to be treated. You may work for justice and reconciliation as you know how.

In other words, you may choose inner peace and let that project into your world, rather than constantly react to external circumstances you perceive in your world.

You can set the agenda. If it's your truth, then it's your world.

Own it.

James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you find his articles informative or entertaining, your support through Paypal helps keep him going. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.