1)accept nothing as fact
2)question everything
3)determine your own truth
4)define your own reality
It's an ongoing process whereby you constantly evaluate data, assimilate it into your perspective and build upon a foundation of previously accumulated and assimilated data...
as an example, take leprachauns
1)don't accept their existence as fact or fiction just because somebody said it's true or false
2)question the validity of their existence by researching, studying, comparing, analyzing, look for answers everywhere and anywhere and not just to prove it but also to disprove it
3)based on what you have learnt determine what you believe to be the truth about leprachauns
4)the knowledge you now have puts you in the position of being able to define a reality that allows for the existence or not of leprachauns
If someone else comes up with more data concerning leprachauns assimilate it into your knowledge data base and adjust your truth if neccessary then re define your reality
Your truth may differ from somebody elses so here is where faith in your abilities and trust in the process by which you arrived at your truth becomes paramount in being able to speak with confidence about the reality of leprachauns existing
as an exercise substitute leprachauns for let's say...God
Lastly never think you know the absolute truth or the ultimate reality because your personal perception of truth and reality will only ever be your opinion...this is why a lot of "teachers of truth" fail
Descartes thought he had arrived at the fundamental truth by stating "I think therefore I am" I think I have improved upon it by saying
I think, I feel , I know, I am right...
...you may think otherwise so if you think I am wrong then the onus is on you to prove it and I will gladly recant
nothing is perfect...