Do you count your change when it comes back to you? How about locking your doors? Why don’t we ever take the top paper from a newspaper machine (for those of you old enough to still read those things)? It’s interesting how reluctant we are to trust people. Unless we really have no other choice, that is. For example, if I’m in a car accident and trapped in my vehicle, the first responder who shows up to help will find me FULL of trust and cooperation. But I can be sitting in that same seat, in that same car but in a different setting, and not extend that same trust to, say, a police officer who would like to discuss my speed in a school zone.
Trust is partially about my past experiences but also partly about my current situation. It occurs to me that it’s important to build trust BEFORE you need it. People need to see you, hear from you and have a relationship of trust with you, so that when the time comes the bond of trust is strong. I would encourage you to do things that increase the level of trust that people have with you. Start today. Don’t wait. Get out in the community and smile at people. Say hello. Shake hands. Engage in random acts of kindness. Build those trust relationships now.
