The phrase “your truth” has become a popular expression in modern dialogue, often used to validate someone’s perspective or lived experience. While the intention behind it may be to empower individuals to speak openly about their feelings or experiences, it introduces a dangerous confusion between subjective perception and objective reality. Truth, by definition, is not subjective. There are not multiple versions of truth — only truth, and then beliefs, interpretations, or feelings about it.

Truth is that which aligns with reality. It is objective, verifiable, and consistent regardless of who observes it. Gravity exists whether you believe in it or not. A historical event either happened or it didn’t, regardless of how people feel about it. The laws of physics do not bend to opinion, and facts do not change based on how strongly someone identifies with a particular narrative.

Subjective experience, on the other hand, is real but personal. It is shaped by emotions, background, and perception. When someone says, “this is my truth,” what they usually mean is, “this is my perspective” or “this is what I went through.” That matters — people’s experiences are significant — but they are not the same as truth itself. Conflating the two weakens both. It elevates opinion to the level of fact and devalues truth by implying it can be altered by emotion or individual belief.

This confusion has consequences. When every perspective is labeled as its own “truth,” it becomes nearly impossible to challenge misinformation, correct false claims, or hold people accountable. The phrase can be used as a shield against criticism — not because a statement is accurate, but because it is personally significant to the speaker. But feelings, however valid, do not grant a person the authority to redefine reality.

The pursuit of truth requires humility, logic, and a willingness to revise one’s beliefs when presented with evidence. It is not always comfortable, and it does not always validate one’s personal story. But it is consistent, and it is essential for justice, reason, and progress. Without a shared foundation of what is true, dialogue collapses into chaos, and disagreement becomes impossible to resolve.

It is important to honor people’s experiences and acknowledge their emotional realities. But that respect does not require rewriting what is true. There is room for compassion without distortion. The more clearly we distinguish between personal experience and objective truth, the more honest and constructive our conversations can become.

Truth is not owned, personalized, or variable. It is discovered, tested, and upheld. To confuse it with perception is to undermine it. To recognize its objectivity is to respect the reality that we all share, whether or not we see it the same way.