I’ve been reflecting on the concept of trust. What does it mean to trust or to be trustworthy? How do you know when trust guides your life or is starting to slip into another direction? To me, trust means you believe in your choices, relationships and viewpoints. Current research has found that in that first encounter with a stranger, your brain and gut will tell you whether or not someone is trustworthy.
There are two types of trust: passive and active. Passive trust is like being on auto pilot. For example, you trust your car will start. You trust your family members will come home at the end of the day. You trust your body to breathe and digest and eliminate foods. Active trust is making people feel understood and heard. It is about you caring for your body so it can stay healthy.
Ask yourself these three questions to determine the presence or lack of trust.
Am I comfortable?
Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you get itchy all over or smile big and wide? Trusting the way you look at yourself is a true expression of compassion. Believing you are an important member of the human species empowers you to rise up from a place of strength.
“I trust my body will take care of me. I trust my place in the world.”
“Denying your intuition robs you of trusting the truth. Your inner compass needs a place to express itself – often and clearly.
Am I listening?
Trust is an inside job. You have an internal radar called intuition. Denying this tremendous gift is a clear signal that you don’t want to hear the truth. Blocking this gift shows you are seeking an answer outside of yourself. The most valuable answer to your questions lies within. Believing in your inner messages guides you to a richer place in your spirit.
“I trust my inner voice.”
Am I safe?
Circulating thoughts and feelings of doubt destabilizes your ability to rely on yourself. There is no flow. Answers are fleeting. You begin to feel anxious, protective and lost. Feeling safe in yourself and in the world is critical to a healthy and functioning spirit. Create one act and repeat it often and trust you will find a dependable place to anchor your feet and heart. The late actress Carrie Fisher said: “Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.”