Satya, or truthfulness, is one of the Yamas in yoga philosophy—guiding principles for how we interact with ourselves and the world. But what does truth actually mean when our minds are full of conditioned patterns, habitual thoughts, and ingrained beliefs? What if the thoughts we accept as truth are simply well-worn neural pathways rather than reality?

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.