What is trust?
Last week we discussed going to the original source of information before making any decisions. This discussion led us into a further exploration of trust. We were asking questions such as: What is trust?... Is overall trust waning in our culture? … How do you further develop trust?...What are the components of trust?...
Results from a 2018 Pew Research article (https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/07/22/trust-and-distrust-in-america/)
states that, “Many Americans think declining trust in government and in each other makes it harder to solve key problems.”
What is trust?
Trust plays a pervasive role in social affairs, even sustaining acts of cooperation
among strangers who have no control over each others’ actions. It is the basic unit of
social glue that enables us to interact without fear. Take, for example, each time we
get into our car and drive down the highway we are trusting that all the other drivers
are going to obey the same rules we are even though we have no control over the
other drivers’ actions.
Trust is further defined as:
Assumes that others will not intentionally hurt or abuse you.
The inner sense of acceptance you have of others with whom you are able to share secrets, knowing those secrets are safe.
The sense that things are fine; that nothing can disrupt the bond between you and the other.
It is the glue or cement of relationships.
Opening yourself up to let others in on your background, problems, concerns, and mistakes with the assurance that they will not ostracize you because of these things.
The act of placing yourself in the vulnerable position of relying on others to treat you in a fair, open and honest way.
The ability to let others into your life so that you and they can create a relationship built on an understanding of mutual respect, caring and concern to assist one another in growing and maturing independently.
Sharing your feelings and thoughts with others with the belief that they will not spread them indiscriminately.
With the declining trust that has been indicated and its impact on our ability to solve problems, how to we begin to rebuild it on an individual basis?
In a Forbes 2018 article, The Essential Importance of trust: How to Build It or Restore it, https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennisjaffe/2018/12/05/the-essential-importance-of-trust-how-to-build-it-or-restore-it/?sh=6252021e64fe the six building blocks of trust are identified as:
Reliability and Dependability
Transparency
Competency
Sincerity, Authenticity and Congruency
Fairness
Openness and Vulnerability
Trust is an essential element in attaining a healthy, prosperous and fulfilling life. It is not an absolute because it can be built, destroyed, and rebuilt. The effort it takes in building trust with oneself, and others is well invested because of the magnitude of the benefits it offers.
Key Takeaways
Overall trust in the United States in declining
Trust can be built, destroyed and rebuilt.
Trust is essential to a quality life.
Best Practices
Be as open and transparent as possible.
Make your word a representation of who you are.
When you are wrong, admit it.
Things to Limit
Breaking a promise.
White lies.
Justifying falsehoods.
Quote of the Week
“The four hardest tasks on earth are neither physical nor intellectual feats, but spiritual ones:
To return love for hate
To include the excluded
To forgive without apology
To be able to say “I was wrong”
~Author Unknown
Trust is not something that you can hold in your hand or place in a secure place, but
rather a feeling that you have in your gut that helps you to navigate the world.
Be well,
The paraDocs
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The paraDocs are Dr. Francis L. Battisti, PhD, Psychotherapist, Distinguished Psychology Professor and former Executive V.P and Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Helen E. Battisti PhD, RDN, CDN, Chief Nutrition Officer, at SpNOD, Health Promotion Specialist, Research and Clinical Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and former Assistant Professor.
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