Truth and Perspective

It's time for the daily edition of the writey/thinky thing. The topic today, my faithful five, is truth and the impact that perspective has on truth.

There is truth and then there is reality. The two can coincide or be mutually exclusive. Wait...what? Um...that doesn't make sense. Truth is truth, right? If it is true then that makes it reality, right? Not necessarily. Let me break it down for you folks...perspective changes all of it. Damn it, now this is just getting confusing.

Let's start with perspective because this is what it all revolves around. Life experiences alter our perception. If every time you have tried to pet a dog, you get your hand bitten, that might make you think that dogs are mean. Opinion also contributes to our own personal truth. One person can say that there is nothing better than a medium rare steak, so that is their truth.

Reality, this one is kind of tricky. Webster says it is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they appear or might be imagined. Reality is the lack of our perception adding to the truth. This is where 2 + 2 = 4 all day long, every day. Reality has nothing to do with our comprehension (that is that perception/truth thing for those of you that are paying attention).

Truth is a bit more abstract than reality is. Reality can coexist with truth, which can be construed by our life experiences and observations. Reality can also stand alone from truth. It is up to each of us to differentiate among truth, reality, opinion and perception. What is real and true to you may not be actual to someone else.