Ethics

To Trust or Not

John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

06 Aug 2009 • 1 min read

"Better to trust and be disappointed once in a while, than it is to distrust & be miserable all the time"

Coach John Wooden

A common definition of trust is when you rely on the integrity, strength, or ability of another person---it is an expression of our confidence in others. Occasionally, we just feel it, but most of the time other people have to earn our trust.

Why are we so stingy with our trust? I think it is a learned behavior. People break promises and sooner or later we learn to be cautious or not to trust our instincts or impulses. Better safe than sorry.

Yet, this same learned behavior impedes our progress with new people and new ideas. John Wooden tells us to trust first, if we can. There are many good people out---you just need to trust them and give them a chance.