“You make me laugh when you tell me that you speak The Truth and that the rest of us need to hear it. My borderline friends and family also think they speak The Truth from every hallway of their minds. You don’t speak my truth, and I don’t speak yours.”
— Ariel, Energy Healer
This was an Instagram post from my friend Ariel. When I read it, my heart and mind said YES!!
Have you ever had this experience when you hear or read something? It’s that confirmation, that knowing of truth… More specifically, YOUR truth.
Now, I’m not talking about measurable, tangible facts such as plants need water and sunlight to grow, we need food to sustain ourselves, or the gestational period for humans is nine full months. I am referring to how you move through life, how life works, and to esoteric, religious, and spiritual beliefs. The lens through which you see the world and how things work, and your role in it. How you make decisions, the mechanics of living. Subjective beliefs.
What works for you, what resonates with you. This can be fluid as you move through life.
Quick Summary: How to Know Your Truth
Your body tells you what’s true for you through physical signals — just as your intuition does. When something aligns with your truth, you’ll feel physical lightness, a calm sensation in your chest, and perhaps an openness in your throat. When something is not your truth, you may feel an icky sensation, pressure in your throat, or general physical discomfort.
The key distinction: Strong emotional reactions often indicate bias, not truth. Bias shows up as tension, racing thoughts, quickened breathing, and lingering discomfort. Your truth, by contrast, arrives as calm knowing — relaxed body, steady breath, regulated emotions.
Why does knowing your truth matter? It’s foundational to self-identity, self-love, and authenticity. When you know your truth, you can set boundaries, pursue what truly matters to you, and live a more fulfilling life. Your truth isn’t about being right or proving others wrong — it’s simply what’s right for you.
Read on to learn specific body signals that distinguish truth from bias, self-check questions you can use in any moment, and how to navigate family dynamics when truths differ.
Examples of Subjective Truth
Some examples of how personal truth shows up in everyday life:
One belief is that strict planning is the ideal way to manage life, while others believe that operating more in the moment, even spontaneously, is the best path.
Some feel that Christianity is the truth, while others feel Hinduism is. This can be said for all religions.
A vegetarian diet feels right for some, while others believe in a diet that includes meat and fish.
Public school is the preferred system for some families, yet more families are choosing to homeschool their children.
Traditional Western allopathic medicine is the norm for most people, while others seek a more holistic approach, including naturopathic or Chinese medicine, and some embrace both.
Some believe you live one life, then go to heaven or hell when you die. Others believe in some form of reincarnation.
You get the idea. The point here is that none of these are right or wrong. Your truth is your truth.
Physical Signs of Intuition: How Your Body Tells You What’s True
How do you know your truth? Your body will tell you, just as your intuitive signals do.
Can you tell the difference when something does feel like your truth? When you hear something that doesn’t resonate, how does that feel?
For me, when something is not aligned with my truth, it can feel icky all over my body or cause a slight physical discomfort. Oftentimes, I get pressure in my throat or a sensation that my throat is closing (not literally though). When a choice aligns with my truth, there is a physical lightness all over my body, or in a specific location like my heart, that accompanies it, or a calm feeling in my chest or abdomen. I may feel movement in my throat, as if it is opening.
Here is a personal example: When we were in the midst of COVID and the vaccine was released, I chose not to get it. Not for political reasons or out of conspiracy theories, but because it was not my truth. I felt a strong yet calm ‘NO’ when I considered this option.
The Difference Between Intuition and Bias
If you have a strong reaction, that is your bias, not necessarily your truth. We all have biases. Bias is defined as ‘A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.’ When having a reaction, your energy or emotions are charged and amped up. You may be moved to tears or anger. Your body becomes tense and your breathing becomes more rapid.
Your truth is not biased. It is unfiltered, detached, ego-free. When the response is one of knowing, you can feel a calm sensation in your chest, an openness in your throat, and a relaxed, peaceful feeling washes over you. Your body is relaxed and your breath is regular. Your emotions are tempered and steady.
Self-Check Questions: Is This My Truth or My Bias?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help distinguish biased feelings from your intuition:
- Do my neck and shoulders feel tense or relaxed?
- Did my body contract or twitch, or am I still and calm?
- Is my mind racing with thoughts about what I heard, or is it steady and content?
- How are my emotions? Am I calm and centered? Or am I agitated and upset?
- Do the sensations I am feeling linger, or are they fleeting?
Bias vs. Truth: What Your Body Tells You
Your bias will present with:
- Tension in areas of your body
- Feelings of strong emotion
- Monkey mind (racing thoughts)
- Quickened breathing
- Lingering sensations
Your truth or knowing will present with:
- A relaxed body and mind
- Steady breathing
- Regulated emotions
- Calmness throughout your body and mind
If you find yourself having a strong reaction to something you hear, pause a moment, take a few breaths and ask your intuition if this is your truth or not. Scan your body and see what it tells you. Suspend your ego and bias long enough to get the answer. It could still be your truth, but you want to allow your intuition to answer, not your emotion.
Why Knowing Your Truth Matters for Self-Identity
It is important to know your truth. Why? Because it is an aspect of a strong self-identity, a strong sense of self which leads to self-love and authenticity… which leads to setting boundaries, pursuing what truly matters to you and an overall more fulfilling life.
It isn’t about being right or telling others they are wrong. This isn’t dogma. It is what is right for YOU. The side note to that is to also accept that others have the truth that is right for THEM.
How to Explore Your Beliefs
Over the years, I have encouraged people to explore their spiritual beliefs and to determine their truth. If you were raised in a specific religion, for example, take time to assess if the teachings resonate with you or if you go along with it out of habit or fear of rejection. One of two things will happen:
One: You will determine that no, these beliefs don’t fit what you truly believe. Then you explore other beliefs to see what is truly aligned with you.
Two: You will realize that your childhood faith feels right to you, and from this point on, you embrace it and its teachings with more passion and connection.
It is a win-win scenario either way!
How do you go about maintaining your health? In the US, Western allopathic medicine is the traditional norm. I come from a medical family, and this is how I was raised. Yet my approach is more aligned with a combination of allopathic, holistic, naturopathic, chiropractic and even Chinese medicine, especially for maintaining good health.
Navigating Family Dynamics When Truths Differ
It can be difficult to navigate family dynamics when truths differ. I know this from personal experience. I come from a strong family. I knew at a young age that motherhood wasn’t for me. Having my own children never felt aligned with who I am. My family is Middle Eastern and this is not the norm for my culture. People would say, ‘oh you just haven’t met the right man. When you do, you will change your mind!’ But I knew my truth. I remember my mom being surprised by my decision, but the calmness in my voice assured her that I knew what I was doing.
Some other examples where my truth differs from my family’s: my spiritual beliefs, my diet… I have been a vegetarian most of my life. Finally, my perspectives and beliefs on Covid the virus and the vaccine. I learned over time not to feel threatened by the differences and that the love we share as a family is the only thing that matters.
However, the last one was problematic. I’m not gonna lie. Despite catching flak and a lot of tension, I stuck to my truth and kept my distance. My one regret is that I didn’t share my truth. I kept my mouth shut about my specific beliefs and why I had them, for fear of backlash. They knew, in some ways, how I felt based on my choices. The decision left me feeling inauthentic in some ways because I stayed quiet. I held steadfast to what I believe, nonetheless. I still do — it is my truth.
How to Share Your Truth Without Creating Conflict
When sharing your truth, it is important to do so from a place of respect, not dogma. Remember, my truth is my truth and your truth is yours. It is not finite.
There is a saying in one of the Star Wars movies that has always stuck with me. Yoda says, ‘Absolutism is the way of the Sith.’ Insisting that your truth is THE truth is limiting, arrogant and prohibits connection and understanding.
You want to share your truth to simply share what is important to you and to illuminate a certain perspective, not to change minds. If one is influenced by your truth, so be it, but that is on their own volition and an act of self-sovereignty.
Refer to my article How to Navigate Difficult Conversations to learn how to share your truth in an authentic yet inviting way.
Your Truth Can Evolve
Hold to your truth no matter what, while acknowledging that your truth may evolve and change along the way. As a child, my family’s religion was my truth. As an adult, my spiritual truth is different. I am grateful for the foundation the religion gave me as a springboard to my relationship with God, and I still love some aspects of it. When I am at church for weddings and funerals, I am uplifted by the beautiful music from their exceptional choir. You can feel God’s presence fill the room and your heart. I also love the rituals that are a big part of Orthodox Christian services.
If it is truly your truth, you won’t shake, tremble or wobble when stating it. You won’t be angry or emotional. It is simply your truth. This is why truth is so grounding.
Claiming Your Spiritual Strengths as Part of Your Truth
One aspect of your truth is to claim your spiritual strengths, or Soul Specialties, as I call them. Understanding these gifts, knowing which come naturally to you and expressing them without apology is part of your truth.
If Medium is one that comes naturally to you, don’t shy away from expressing it. If someone asks how you found your missing necklace, be honest and tell them your angels helped you! As an adult, I readily acknowledged my intuitive ability as it is my truth and an aspect of who I am. When I was younger, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t understand what was happening or what it meant.
Learn more about Soul Specialties and discover your unique spiritual gifts.
Honoring Others’ Truth
When I am working with clients and share what I intuitively see or believe, I present it as a suggestion, not a fact. I do this intentionally. I know what I see, and my intuition tells me it comes from truth, not my ego. Yet, stating it as fact creates a dogmatic dynamic and also prevents the person from exercising sovereignty over their life and journey. What I see as truth may not be their truth. Or, maybe something they are not ready or willing to deal with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Your Truth
How do I know if something is my truth or just my opinion?
Check your body’s response. Opinions often come with an emotional charge — you might feel defensive or want to argue. Your truth arrives with calm certainty. Your body is relaxed, your breathing is steady, and you feel no need to convince anyone. Even if others disagree, you remain grounded because you simply know.
What does it feel like when something is my truth?
Physical lightness in your body, a calm or peaceful sensation in your chest, openness in your throat, steady breathing, and a quiet knowing. You won’t shake, tremble, or feel the need to justify yourself. There’s no urgency — just clarity.
How can I tell the difference between intuition and an emotional reaction?
Emotional reactions come with tension, racing thoughts, quickened breathing, and strong feelings like anger or fear that linger. Intuition feels calm and detached — it’s information arriving without drama. If your mind is racing and your body is tense, that’s likely emotion. If you feel peaceful clarity, that’s likely intuition.
Why is it important to know my truth?
Knowing your truth is foundational to self-identity, self-love, and authenticity. It allows you to set healthy boundaries, pursue what genuinely matters to you, and live a more fulfilling life. Without knowing your truth, you may find yourself following others’ paths or feeling lost about what really resonates with you.
Can my truth change over time?
Absolutely. Your truth can be fluid as you move through life. What felt true at 20 may evolve by 40. This isn’t inconsistency — it’s growth. The key is to stay connected to your body’s signals and remain open to your truth evolving as you do.
What should I do when my truth conflicts with my family’s beliefs?
Share your truth from a place of respect, not dogma. You’re not trying to change minds — you’re simply honoring who you are. Accept that others have the truth that is right for them, and remember that the love you share can transcend differences. It’s possible to hold your truth while maintaining connection.
Julie Farha is an intuitive life coach and author of Tangible Intuition: Make Better Decisions. She works with clients to help them discover and strengthen their Soul Specialties so they can navigate life with more clarity and confidence. Book a session or join the Clear Insight community.
