The Oxford English Dictionary defines trust as the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
William Shakespeare said that we should love all, but trust few.
Putting your trust in someone means that you allow them to see the most vulnerable parts of you. Some people stay loyal to your trust and return it, but others don’t. We shouldn’t segregate or judge anyone (everyone deserves care and acceptance) but with some people there is a limit. You can be friendly to people without having to put all of your faith in them.
Trust revolves around truth; if you are truthful and loyal, you build trust, but that can be easily broken by a lie. Dr. Farrah Gray said, “A single lie discovered is enough to create doubt in every truth expressed.” Human nature makes it a lot easier to remember the bad things above the good. Maya Angelou said that we will forget what people say but never how they made us feel. A breach of trust creates so many negative emotions that it is hard to forget and move on.
If someone breaks your trust, it can be extremely difficult to trust them again. You can build towards it, but the thought of the broken trust lingers in the back of your mind. Lady Gaga said, “Trust is like a mirror, you can fix it if it’s broken, but you can still see the crack in the reflection.”
We can’t, however, let the fear of being hurt keep us from trusting. We all need those people who we know we can turn to with anything to find support, advice and love. Stephen R. Covey said, “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.”
We find trust in love and vulnerability. Bob Vanourek said that trust is built when someone shows vulnerability and they are not taken advantage of. We all have our vulnerabilities, we just need to find someone who helps us embrace them and work through them. Don’t be afraid to trust. If there is trust between you, your friends, family, or your spouse’s, then embrace it, because relationships based on trust and love are the most fruitful ones.
