Many people have long ago given up all effort to distinguish fact from fiction. They have let it become a blur. But you can't afford to live in that kind of chaos. You'll go a long way toward establishing peace of mind by being honest with yourself, which is the root of all sanity. Next, you need to be direct, clear and gentle with the people around you. Give them a chance to speak, offer the benefit of the doubt, and then withhold judgement. There's no rush, and what you learn will give you enormous insight.