Living Truthfully: The Practice of Satya
What Does It Mean to Live In Truth?
Satya, or truthfulness, is one of the five Yamas in Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga. The Yamas are thought of as ethical guidelines—ways of being that help us live in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. Satya asks us to be honest in our thoughts, words, and actions—to live in alignment with what is real and authentic. It encourages us to see things as they are, rather than as we wish them to be, and to express our truth in a way that is kind, clear, and aligned with our highest self.
Truthfulness in yoga goes beyond just “not lying.” It is about recognizing the ways we might deceive ourselves, avoiding or ignoring deeper truths that could help us grow. Satya invites us to meet those truths with courage and compassion.
Facing the Truth We Avoid
I recently spent a weekend at a silent yoga and meditation retreat, which gave me the space to be deeply introspective. In that silence, I became aware of certain truths I’ve been avoiding—about myself, my habits, my time, and my relationship with the world around me.
I’ve been telling myself that I’m doing enough, that I’m moving in the right direction. And in many ways, I am. But I also know I deserve to be more disciplined with my time—not in the sense of adding more to my plate, but in eliminating the distractions that waste my energy. The endless scrolling, the time slipping away into nothingness. I want less digital noise, more presence.
Last fall, I deleted Instagram off of my phone, but I have been reaching for Facebook again (which I hadn’t for years prior). I’ve stopped consuming “reels” and instead been watching YouTube. I’ve never downloaded TikTok, but I click through random articles on my Google homepage whenever boredom creeps in. I see this pattern clearly, and I know it’s time to shift.
But here’s the thing—change doesn’t happen all at once. The process of letting go of habits that no longer serve us is not a straight line. And often, what keeps us from making real, lasting change isn’t just the habit itself—it’s the shame we feel for falling into it in the first place. Shame makes us hide from ourselves. It keeps us from being honest about what we need to change, and at the same time, it stops us from showing ourselves the compassion necessary to actually grow.
This is why Satya, or truthfulness, must be met with kindness. Living truthfully isn’t about being perfect; it’s about recognizing where we are, accepting what we see, and then choosing to move forward, step by step. So I choose to be honest about this, not with guilt, but with awareness. And from that awareness, I can decide what comes next.
Technology and the Illusion of Connection
We spend so much of our lives consuming—media, opinions, fleeting updates. But the greatest truths about life are not found on a screen; they are in real moments, real experiences, real connections with people and with ourselves. Whether in silence and stillness or in shared moments with others, truth exists in presence. And yet, it is so easy to distract ourselves from it.
I’ve been feeling the pull to step away from the noise and listen more deeply to what my heart is asking of me: more fresh air, more faith, more real moments. My phone is not helping me get there. The internet promises connection, but it often leaves me feeling more disconnected from reality. We are fed curated versions of truth, leaving us questioning what to believe and who to trust. But Satya is about turning inward and recognizing truth from within, rather than looking for it in the external world.
Living Our Truth with Compassion
Satya isn’t just about uncovering truth; it’s about what we do with it. Truth without compassion can be harsh, even harmful. That’s why Satya is balanced by Ahimsa (non-violence, the first Yama, which I talked about in this blog post and this one). When we acknowledge the truths we’ve been avoiding, we must meet them with kindness. If we realize we need to change, we can then do so from a place of self-love rather than self-judgment.
For me, that means stepping away from distractions and tuning into the life that is right here, right now. It means reconnecting with my community more often, being present with loved ones, and embracing the discomfort that comes with deep self-inquiry. It means recognizing what I need and honoring it, rather than numbing myself to the truth.
Questions to Ponder:
What truths have you been avoiding—either about yourself or your life?
How might embracing them with compassion help you grow?
A Meditation on Satya
If you, too, are seeking to connect more deeply with your truth, I invite you to practice the following Satya Meditation. This practice is designed to guide you inward, helping you listen to your inner wisdom with honesty and compassion.
May we all have the courage to live truthfully, with kindness and clarity.
