Are you a
skeptical person, always doubting others or questioning the validity or
authenticity of something?
When I was
growing up, I observed how my father expressed trust with others by extending a
handshake, which usually meant that I take you by your word. They didn’t need lengthy contracts to seal
the deal because a man’s word meant something. When you trust another, it usually means that you have a
good feeling about them and what they have to say. Companies ask consumers to trust that their product is
worthy of their dollars. Whether
it is the food that we buy, the clothing that we wear or some brand name that
implies that good and useful value is exchanged.
Trust is a
commodity today that is often bought and sold at whim. Unfortunately it seems that too many
people can be bought for a price, which regrettably destroys the meaning of the
word. A good example is the
cyclist, Lance Armstrong, a man who gave the impression to the world that he
did not take enhancement drugs to help his career. He basically said: “You must believe me.”
Yet through various sources and testimonies by his peers and associates,
it has been noted that he was being dishonest. The world trusted him and wanted to believe what he said,
but it appears that his actions gave a different story. More often than not we are seeing
this behavior played out on the world stage by individuals and companies who
have lost their sense of worth and compromised their values.
I recently
sent a package from New Jersey to California via the US Postal Service. I trusted the system. I bought a tube to put the package in
and I paid extra for delivery confirmation. The package never arrived. 6 weeks later the postal service refused to discuss the
matter and 8 weeks later they said it was an old file and removed from their
system so I had no recourse. When
I asked to be reimbursed for my expenses, they laughed! In short, I lost confidence in their
system and decided to send my packages in the future through other
carriers. Their system is going
broke—they are continually crying poverty and state that they need more funding
from the government and the people in order to survive. I have a problem with people and
organizations that we cannot trust and that prove that they are not only inefficient
but lack professionalism and a reason for trusting them.
It leads me
to believe that they have a different agenda— that they do not do what they say
and that they are not trustworthy.
I am not alone; many people feel the same way because we have been
misguided by the words of others that say one thing and do another.
Trust is
sacred. The word trust means
believing in someone or something without reservation. It means that you feel safe and secure
with the person or situation and that you can be content knowing that
everything will be okay.
Trust is also
something that must be earned and if you trust first and hope that the person
will hold up to your beliefs—then you also know that if it is lost, most of the
time, it can not be reinstated. In
other words, it is lost for good.
Trust—trustworthiness—integrity-three words that say it all. I personally find these words to have a
sacred meaning and a sacred place in my heart. I must admit that these three words also have the power to
sadden and cause people to do the exact opposite, which is mistrust and
deceive.
Trust once
broken, is difficult to rebuild.
So I encourage you to watch your words. Value what you say, say what you mean and do what you say
you are going to do because it is only then that your word has meaning and
value and that is what trust is built upon.
Joan
Marie Ambrose
Author, Creative Writer,
Motivational Speaker
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