The truth arises as the truth, but we do not see it as it is because of our own unclarity, our own positions, prejudices, identifications, limitations, preferences, and goals—the totality of which we call subjectivity. However, if we really love the truth for its own sake, we will want to see it as it is, we will want to behold the objective truth. This will translate into the wish and passion to discern all our subjective positions that are preventing objective perception. So, for instance, I do not just realize, “I’m feeling angry,” but I also observe and discern how I feel in response to seeing my anger. Do I have a judgment about it? Do I believe that it’s okay to be angry or not okay to be angry? What are my opinions and prejudices about anger? I explore everything I bring into the experience of anger. In other words, we always need to be aware of our subjective reaction to our experience in order to see how we interfere with it. – Spacecruiser Inquiry: True Guidance for the Inner Journey, ch. 24
One of the main reasons you do not recognize or pursue your ability to know the truth (and thereby be in touch with reality) is that knowing the truth in your experience often contradicts your need to maintain certain beliefs about yourself. Sensing the truth can only be a guide for bringing you into closer relationship to reality in the moment. At any moment, if you do not like what you find to be true and you prefer to hold on to a familiar or more acceptable experience of yourself, you will stop paying attention to the truth.
This does not mean your sense of truth is infallible. As you begin to pay attention to your inner reality compass, you will find it affected by your desires, preferences, hopes, and fears. For instance, you may feel that it is true you want an ice cream cone right now. What you may not recognize is that a deeper truth may be hidden within the truth of that desire. Perhaps you really long for something sweet to soothe an aching heart. If you don’t look beyond the surface truth of wanting the ice cream cone because being in touch with the deeper truth would be uncomfortable, then your desire for pleasure will be distorting your truth sense. Through attuning to your sense of truth and being willing to question and remain open to what you discover, you can strengthen your truth-seeking capacity.
This capacity is in fact an aspect of your true nature. Truth is a quality of who you are, separate from any particular context. The more you practice sensing what is true in your experience, the more you can begin to perceive truth as a flavor on its own. – Byron Brown, Soul Without Shame: A Guide to Liberating Yourself from the Judge Within, Ch. 23