Truth Series: Part 4: Live Your Truth: The How-To Guide

This four-part series delves into the importance of living your truth.
Published June 4, 2017

As we wrap up this four-part series on truth our experts weigh in with some practical advice to help you on the path of living your own truth.

It is not always the easiest thing to do, but the rewards of living your truth – contentment and an authentic experience of life, to name just a couple – are worth the effort.

Vancouver-based professional coach Katie Webster says living your truth means having the courage to go inside yourself in the face of possible disapproval – from family for example or even society at large – and unearth your deepest and most passionate desires.

“Once we tease these babies out, the work begins of bringing them into the light,” Webster says. “Committing daily to inviting them into our lives in ways more magical than we could have ever dreamt or imagined, ways that weave meaning and happiness into our existence, is what fills our hearts with satisfaction and joy.” 

Identifying your truth

Know your truth

“In some situations this might be a fairly simple task, and in others, it will be invariably more complicated. Ultimately, it is important to remember that truth is not rooted in the concrete world but in a place much more spiritual. It shows up more like a moving target because as we grow, develop and evolve as people, so, too does our truth,” says Webster.

What does it feel like?

“When I'm living my truth I feel clear, grounded, energized, and empowered; my receptivity becomes heightened and my intuition lights up. It's deeply fulfilling!” says Nina Taylor, an intuitive coach, yoga teacher, and writer in Toronto.

Webster offers a counterpoint, describing what the alternative feels like: “Not living one’s truth leads to misery, suffering and illness. I’m not saying living your truth is easy. It can require breaking away from what is established and routine and can seem upsetting to others at first.”

“It is a risk,” she explains, “but an exciting and rewarding one. If you think you might be on this track, don’t worry. Awareness is the catalyst for change. Begin asking your inner sage of guidance and invite your inner wisdom to surface and become more prevalent in your life,” Webster says.

Standing up for your truth

Webster advises a compassionate approach when you feel your truth is being challenged by others.
 

“Once you have found your truth [then] comes the task of speaking or acting it in a respectful manner. Listening and seeing others as souls on their own journeys of discovering truth is a nice way to have compassion and level the playing field when you are feeling challenged to defend yourself,” Webster says.

Taylor takes an approach that she calls “radical honesty”, or “being true to yourself no matter what!”
 

“I believe it is the only way to experience true freedom,” Taylor says. “Being honest with yourself is to be in alignment with your essence, your soul's purpose, and your core truth, regardless of how it may impact others,” she stresses.

Living your truth

So how exactly, do we go about doing this “living your truth” thing? Three of our expert sources from this series share their advice.

Allyson Woodrooffe, a Toronto-based embodiment and life coach, says to discover our truth and, ultimately, live it, we have to minimize the noise that distracts us from noticing the energy of the body.

“Take time to do whatever it is that grounds you - maybe it’s walking in nature or meditating. For me, it always starts with my breath. Not in a ‘thinking about my breath’ way. But just being in my body, slowing down enough to feel the breath, noticing what it feels like. Usually once I can find that awareness, the next step is a softening in which the buzzing bits of energy start to move and settle down in the body. Most often, once the energy settles clarity emerges.”

Woodrooffe explains that taking the time to do this grounding – to feel and be alert in the present – creates the foundation for an honest experience of the world.

“For example, if you are feeling anxious or tight in the chest, take a few moments to release the body to the breath and you’ll notice a settling of the energy. In that softened state, clarity will emerge,” she says.

Ground yourself

Be present

Come from a place of love

Be introspective

Listen

Taylor, on the other hand, says a key tip to living your truth is “to notice whether the driving force of your life is coming from a place of fear or love.”

“If you're navigating your life from a place of fear,” Taylor says, “you are not in alignment with your truth. Whereas if you're letting love le ad the way, you'll be moving in the direction of your highest good, and the highest good of all, and aligning with your deepest truths.”

For Webster, it’s all about introspection.

“When I think about an action or a task that I am unclear about, I get still with myself and inquire introspectively about if it is my truth,” she says. “Gently let your mind know it is not required for this exercise – trust me, it will try and take over – as this is a matter of the heart. Sometimes the answer comes quickly and other times it takes days. Feelings of resentment are a good indicator that something is out of whack and feelings of energy and excitement are signs of alignment, so listen to them! Your gut/heart connection is your greatest asset, so trust it.”

Webster explains that vulnerable, empathetic listening is the key to administering your truth in all areas of life, adding that when we’re listened to, we feel loved, connected and cared for. 

“Listening will always lead you back to truth.”