Apparently, especially in the USA, we are increasingly afraid to trust. We believe we have good reason. Disappointment, betrayal, fear. One glance at the news. Social media. Our many unseen faces. It's easy to focus on danger. The costs of mistaken trust are obvious. Damage done. Better to be wary. Cynical.

Trust more then? Seriously? Yes. We can be the brave ones. It is a worthy endeavor. And it requires work, a practice.

Trust is not gullibility. Both mean that I've decided to be more vulnerable. But trust asks me to believe in the other in the absence of clear reasons to disbelieve. I've some evidence of the other's integrity or competence. Adrift in naïveté and foolishness, gullibility has no such reflective anchors.

Trust is not a denial of boundaries. Rather, the boundaries I set set me free to be generous with trust.

The practice then. What if I were to pause with the impulsive, habitual fear contraction of the heart? Were to breathe in reality and space? Were to allow myself this freedom? What if trust as a practice can give my life a sense of grace? What if I trust the gift of trust?

"What is the most beautiful as well as the most loving way of being there is?" philosopher Andrew Taggart has asked. "What would allow us to feel meaning bathing us not because we created it but because we experienced it as a numinous act of grace?"

The news and social media filter for singular bad events. Truth is, we live in a much more peaceful and inclusive world than our ancestors. We don't have to live our distrust. Distrust precludes the delight that can spring from trusting. We won't see opportunities missed: Friendships. New knowledge. Aliveness. Possibility.

Trust celebrates the beauty of our humanity. It's the longer game. A choice.

The practice then. A pause. Empathy. Seeing one another. Imagining others not trusting me. Imagining being the other. To ask, "Who are you?" Curious. Intimate with my own heart as well. Extending the circle. All of us wanting the same thing. To be trusted and trustworthy. To be kind and know kindness.

How will you lean into trust a little bit more today? Drop me a line. I love to hear. Ask anything about this. I'll do my best to respond!

For the research:

A comprehensive set of worldwide data on trust: In some countries, like Sweden, people have a consistently high level of trust. In the USA, trust is steadily declining.

Here a great article by scientist Hugo Mercier: The smart move: we learn more by trusting than by not trusting.

Thank you for reading. It means a lot and I do not take it lightly that you spend your time here. Did you land on this page by coincidence or because someone sent you a link? Subscribe here to receive short essays regularly. With gratitude, Sophia

Shall we trust each other more?

"It's today," squeaked Piglet.

Love is space