It’s a fact of life that the truth can hurt, as David Foster Wallace expresses in this line from his epic 1996 novel “Infinite Jest.” In this philosophical comic novel, Wallace explores our relationship with entertainment, which can serve as a distraction from the hard realities of life. Finding out the truth — about ourselves, others, or our relationships — can be devastating at first, but it also provides a kind of hopeful freedom. When we face and accept the truth, we’re able to see more clearly, and can move forward stronger than before.