Trusting Again
Trusting again is extremely hard for me. I can forgive, but taking the risk of being hurt again is a huge step for me. I’m not one of those people who can break up with someone, and then get back together again. It’s just not in me. When I trust someone, I’m all in. Having that trust broken, whether it’s in a love relationship, as a coworker, or doctor/patient, is soul shattering for me.
For example, I have always had a rocky relationship with the medical community. Being born with hip dysplasia and scoliosis, meant a lot of medical intervention literally from the moment of my birth. Just after birth, it was discovered my hips hadn’t formed properly. I was put into a hip splint before my mother even got to hold me (turning me from a 6lb 7oz baby to over 20 pounds). Although I am very thankful for the discovery as I can walk, run, dance, and do any sport I want; I have also been let down greatly by many doctors along the way.
Who Can You Trust?
Knowing who you can trust is a challenge these days. Over the last 5 years, the main stream media has proven to be unreliable, as well as the government, not to mention the health care industry at large. So who can you trust? Medical and health information changes daily. One day a certain food is the best thing for you, the next you shouldn’t even touch it! So how do you know what’s healthy or not? What procedure is truly the best for you? What medical path is the best to follow? At some point you have to learn to trust.
This was proven to me recently when a family member required surgery I wasn’t comfortable with. The announcement about the surgery was fumbled badly by the medical personnel, saying another health practitioner had demanded it. When I consulted with the other party, they denied it completely. I was confused and very angry. Why was I getting such conflicting recommendations from two reputable health professionals?
Learning To Trust Again.
In my family we keep our health decisions as natural and healthy as possible, including no pharmaceuticals if possible. I was not happy with the procedure that they claimed was essential. I didn’t like the pharmaceuticals that were being used, or the risks that were inherent in the procedure. In the end I agreed, as it would have to happen sooner or later and would be less painful if done sooner. I had to break through a huge wall of distrust to proceed.
It might have been the Berlin Wall as far as I was concerned. I hardly slept days before the procedure and was using every tool I had to control my anxiety. Being able to stay with my family member until the surgery began was very reassuring. I was blown away at how the professionals talked to and treated them. The care, the attention to detail, and the overwhelming concern was incredible! By the time I had to leave the room, I new everything would be fine. The doctor even called us later that evening to make sure everything was going well.
Moving Forward
Trusting again has been very eye opening for me. Knowing someone else cared as much as I did for my family member brought an incredible sense of peace. It also showed me that there are still good people in the world that truly want to help others. I will still continue to do my research about what are the healthiest foods to eat, the newest psychological break throughs, and natural remedies, but knowing there are medical professionals you can trust is both refreshing and calming.
What I’ve learned is that trust is a giant leap of faith. Faith in who you are dealing with, and faith that God will bring you through. Every time you get in your car, you are trusting that the people who built it did their job well. It’s the same with crossing bridges, flying in an airplane, or getting in an elevator. This all requires a great amount of trust.
I’ve also discovered that being able to trust others is very freeing. Life is full of enough challenges and fears, having trust issues just adds more burden and anxiety to life. I’m not saying you need to trust everyone at their word, but giving them the benefit of the doubt releases so much unnecessary stress and anxiety.
How Do You Trust?
The first step to trusting again is to decide that you trust them. Do your own research, get references if necessary, and then decide to trust them. The second step is to bring your concerns to God, and ask for His guidance in the matter. God will protect you from things that are not for your good. When you feel that convicting voice that it’s not for you, follow it. If you don’t sense that God is saying no, and you’re satisfied with your research, then trust that it’s for your good.
Thirdly, take that leap of faith. Trust is a leap of faith, so once you are satisfied it’s a good decision then take the leap. Finally, keep a list of all the times your trust was validated. Keeping this list will show you that you make good decisions, and that there are a lot of trust worthy people in the world. This may start out in baby steps, but each time you are successful your trust in others will grow.
In Conclusion
So, no matter how many times you have been hurt by others, make room in your mind and heart to trust again. Life becomes very lonely when you feel you can’t trust anyone. Trust is a basic building block in all relationships. Without trust, you have nothing and the world becomes a dark place. It’s time to let the light shine back in, so start with trusting that life is good and those in your community are for you not against you. Trust that their smile is sincere and smile back – it’ll change your whole perspective on life!
If you would like help with learning to trust again, reach out to me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca and I’ll be happy to help.
As a natural encourager, I live to help others!!! One-on-one coaching is a great way to start building your confidence, and improve your health! I help people with Fibromyalgia and chronic illness manage their symptoms with ease, so they never feel held back again! Click here for an application form and I would be happy to help you in your journey. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter by clicking here. You can also contact me at andrea@nopainallgain.ca or check out my website: www.nopainallgain.ca
