FAMILY PREP #3: Trust...

When was it that we lost faith in the world. Bring it a little closer, when was it that we lost faith in friends and family. Again, closer, when was it that we lost faith and trust in our spouse and kids. One last time, when was it that we lost faith in ourselves.

Trust is a bonding mechanism that brings the family together. Without trust, all relationships fall apart. Without believing someone's words we push each other apart. But what is trust?

"Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something" by definition. What is it to you?

Trust to me is to be able to believe someone's word, not just those that are spoken but the unspoken words also. Trust though is not only about people. Take it down to the smallest detail. We step down on the ground with each step because we trust that there will be something solid to catch us. Take that belief away and we won't move in fear of the world falling out from underneath us. The first step is always the hardest but through experience we trust that the ground will catch us and so we move forward. We believe a light switch will turn on the light. We believe that a person we trust will tell us what is wrong or what they are thinking. Our entire life revolves around trust.

So when was it that we lost our trust in the people who were the most important to us. Have we ever told them that we don't trust them and then calmly explain why we feel this way. In communicating with loved ones we talk, we move, we express ourselves, but until we tell a person what we are feeling, they will not know the truth.

Could it be that by not trusting others and then not talking to them about it we are not being trustworthy to them. Just as much as they need to tell us what they are thinking, we too need to be open to them as well.

ACTION ITEM:

So today, trust someone again. Talk to them about your feelings, no matter what your beliefs are on the possible outcome. The outcome is not what is important, its the journey that makes all the difference.

Trust once more...