The importance of ‘Satya’- Truthfulness
And HOW to cultivate it in our everyday life
‘Satya’- Truthfulness
Communicating what we understand to be true
When our thoughts, words, and actions are consistent with one another, they are focused on like a laser beam, and our intention is much more likely to come true.
Truthfulness isn’t safe, but it’s good.
Truthfulness is choosing:
‘Real’ over ‘Nice’
“My biggest fear is that everyone I know will be in the same room at the same time and I don't know who to be anymore.”- Carl Jung
Beware of ‘niceness’, not just of others but of yourself as well. Does it align with your true intention or is it just an illusion/distortion?
‘Realness’ though, it’s not always pleasant but it’s trustworthy. Realness requires courage and vulnerability, but the ultimate outcome is worth it.
It gives you the freedom to just be your unique essence, to have the peace of mind, where there is nothing else to defend or to manage.
‘Self-Expression’ over ‘Self-Indulgence’
“Living the life that cries to be lived from the depth of our being frees up our energy and vitality. We benefit and everyone around benefits from your aliveness.”
Know the difference between ‘obsession’ and ‘passion’.
Often times we find ourselves hiding by overeating or overworking, rather than doing what we really want to do. We then will seek all sorts of ways to rationalize how it’s what keeps us alive, ignoring that inner voice that contradicts that thought, taking up even more energy to just ‘pretending’ itself.
How are you distributing your energy in your everyday life and expressing yourself to the world?
‘Growth’ over ‘The Need to Belong’
“Human beings have both a need to belong to groups and a need to expand and grow.”
Our identity is influenced by the various groups that we associate with, and these groups have its own belief system and rules that need to be followed in order to be a part of.
If your longing to grow and the direction of growth is in accordance with your group, then you’re golden. However, when a conflict arises between the need to belong and the need to grow, we have to make a choice to either sacrifice a part of ourselves to maintain our belonging or risk the approval and support of our group by growing.
In any situation, there is no right or wrong choice.
Truth rarely seems to ask the easier choice of us.
People say they don’t know what to do; the truth is they do, but the cost of realness just seems too high at the time.
Are you willing to pay the price of guilt you’ll feel due to the lack of approval from the group for the truth of your freedom or vice versa?
‘Fluidity’ over ‘Rigidity’
“Truth is a dance where the rules and certainties changes with the circumstances.”
What is true yesterday might not even be true today. About others. About yourself. About the world.
The fluidity of truth requires us to clean our lens and periodically get new glasses with which to observe the world. To constantly look for what we are not seeing and to expose ourselves to different views without judgment or attachment of emotions.
Our seeing is limited by all the groups that shape us, as well as by our experiences. What we believe shapes our thinking process, thus informs everything we do and every choice we make.
When you encounter gossips, criticisms or contradictory opinions; seek out the other side of the story before jumping to any conclusions and reacting impulsively.
What are you not seeing because you are seeing what you are seeing?
Are you engaged in the truthful pursuit that is right for the time you’re at in your life?
To do it right the first time
“Can you imagine speaking and acting so correctly that you never have to go back and apologize or make a new agreement?”
Would you rather do it right the first time, or eventually bear the stress from having to clean up all the messes from your acts of cheating the truth?
When you do it right the first time and don’t make false promises to others and yourself, you’ll free yourself from guilt and regret in the future. When we follow through on commitments, both we and others grow more and more confident that we will do what we say.
Being truthful makes us trustworthy and frees up all the time and energy we normally spend in guilt and regret from our dishonesty.
A snippet of my own life:
I felt out of control of my life, and I didn't know what to do. I had a good burst of energy but I didn’t have the confidence or courage to use it to act according to my truth. I also wanted to feel belonged in the Asian community where emaciating thin bodies were enumerated and regarded as beautiful. So I distracted myself with food and exercise. My ability to control these aspects created temporary fulfillment and eventually, an obsession. I tried to convince myself and others that what I’m doing was a healthy way of expressing myself and to show my competency; but I was actually refusing to face the truth that I’m just trying to gain the approval of others in order to boost my self-esteem, to fill the emptiness I feel within from the lack of love I give to myself.
I also have a tendency to create ambitious to-do lists and goals that go unfulfilled. I leave my energy scattered in multiple directions. I make promises to myself and others that don't allow for the reality of interruptions, rest, or play. Then I either have to backtrack on my promises or find myself out of balance keeping up with the too many commitments I have made because of my dishonesty with myself. That’s why I always felt like I couldn't trust myself, what more others in me?
Takeaways:
Your energy is your unique power. Use it well.
When we are fully centered and act according to our current moment of truth then we can fully meet the ordinaries and the challenges in life.
Honor your beliefs because they have brought you to who you are today. However, it’s also important to recognize and let go of ideas, beliefs, and truth that no longer serve you and pay attention when denial shows up.
Celebrate your movement towards a clearer, more authentic you!
Questions to reflect upon:
- Think about the following scenarios and how do you feel and what were the results after:-
- You have lied?
- You were being ‘nice’ instead of being ‘real’?
- Told the truth even when it was difficult?
- Pretended you knew something when you did not?
- Admitted you were wrong?
2. When do you tend to be inconsistent with your thoughts/feelings, words and actions? Say ‘yes’ when you really mean ‘no’?
E.g. When you lack rest and sleep? When you’re with a particular group of people?
3. Why do we lie? What is the risk of truthfulness?
4. What is something you can do today to cultivate more truthfulness in your life?
E.g. Commit to the things that are important to you and learning how to say no to the rest? Thinking twice before saying yes? Choosing to do what is right according to your conscience instead of acting upon what you perceive people will think of you?
Thanks for reading and hope it was helpful!
Related post: The importance of ‘Ahimsa’- Nonviolence and Compassion
Also,
Check me out on Instagram: @thesunyogii and come join me for a free yoga session + discussion at the park (sorry, only in Kuala Lumpur for now!)
