“To be trusted is a 
greater accomplishment 
than to be loved.” 
George MacDonald

I’ve heard it more times than I would like to admit: “You can’t trust anyone these days.” I understand why someone would say this, but I strongly disagree.

It can be a challenge to trust people. Whether the reason for one’s reluctance is past experiences of betrayal by others, or such factors as low self-esteem, fear of vulnerability, or unrealistic expectations, one’s ability to trust can be severely compromised.

Most of us have experienced betrayal, in some form, in our lifetime. Whether we were hurt by a trusted friend or family member, a neighbor, an employer, an elected official, or a member of the clergy, the experience can cause us to fear repeated experiences of that pain in our future. Someone struggling with low self-esteem might assume that others cannot be trusted or that they themselves don’t deserve to be trusted. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

When we place our trust in another person, we allow ourselves to become vulnerable. The reality of trusting anyone is that we open ourselves to the possibility of being hurt or taken advantage of. This could lead to feelings of anxiety and a reluctance to trust others. Trust issues can also arise from having unreasonable expectations of others. When these expectations are not met in a timely fashion, a person might experience overwhelming disappointment or a total loss of trust in someone.

Considering the perception many people have of the world we live in today, skepticism of the intentions of others is understandable. This can be caused by the belief that most people are acting out of self-interest. Sadly, some are, but I choose to believe that people are generally good, trustworthy, and not totally self-absorbed. Based on my own personal experience in the past 70+ years, I believe that the world is basically good with a presence of evil, rather than basically evil with a presence of good.

Life involves risk. Love involves risk. Trust involves risk. So, too, does getting on an airplane, crossing a busy street, eating a meal at a restaurant, or driving across town in our personal vehicle. Risk is a reality with which we are confronted every day. It’s important that we not allow fear to interfere with our relationships, our potential, or our inner peace.