Earned Trust

Trust. While a very important aspect to decision making, can leave you feeling disappointed when situations and people don’t measure up to our expectations. When we say we trust something, there is the understanding that we yield to it wholeheartedly, it's for discussion whether this should leave room for other possible outcomes.

Naturally, when we weigh our trust in someone, it’s on a spectrum of how well we know them, their track record has been with us, and in what aspect of our life we engage with them. It’s true that most people have the best intentions and you should have an open mind about taking what they say for face value, but in cases where a lot is on the line, just trusting someone can set you up for disappointment. This is when references and reviews can pose to be very helpful. There is also taking time to do some general research. This could support the types of questions asked or help identify experience or lack thereof. 

Similar to the considerations that should be accounted for when putting trust in others, this should also apply in trusting your decision-making. Just by saying you can do something, though, it’s a great first step, and requires the necessary follow through. I can trust that I think I'd be great at playing the piano, but without proper instruction and planning, the reality is I’m setting myself up for disappointment. To alleviate this, I try to carefully evaluate my decision and trust my instinct or gut when making choices.

The new year is always a good time to reflect and make any necessary adjustments. Being cognizant of how you trust and recognizing times when you shouldn’t be so broad-stroked in doing so could be a good way to not set yourself up for unnecessary disappointment. Cheers to building a solid foundation for trusts.