Some things occur naturally like the sunrise, seasons, and the changing of the tides. Many folks put trust in the same category, thinking it’s simply a natural outgrowth of relationships. Nothing could be further from the truth. What’s more, if you believe that trust is inevitable, you’re far less likely to make the effort required to earn it. Do you deserve to be trusted?

Even though most people acknowledge the importance of trust, there’s no easy way to gauge its progress. In fact, you’re probably unaware that you constantly evaluate people’s trustworthiness, but you actually do. Think of it as a mental scorecard. You give folks a nod of approval every time they prove worthy of your trust. And you become wary of them every time they disappoint you.

You’ve never given something so much thought, without really thinking.

When someone displays ethical behavior on a consistent basis, you’re able to predict future conduct with some degree of confidence. BUT, if inappropriate behavior is displayed at any time during the process, it’ll cast a shadow on the relationship. And you may even question whether you should trust that person.

Trust takes a long time to develop, but it can be lost in the blink of an eye.

15 Ways You Determine If Someone Should Be Trusted

Think about why you trust some people and not others. What is it about their behavior that makes you trust them?

Do these thoughts cross your mind:

1. “I can always count on him. He’d never let me down.”
2. “She’s the same person in public as she is in private.”
3. “His promise is as good as a contract.”
4. “She’s always willing to help others and rarely asks for anything in return.”
5. “He tells me the truth — even when it hurts.”
6. “She’d never say anything behind my back that she wouldn’t say directly to me.”
7. “He treats everyone warmly — even if they can’t do anything for him.”
8. “She doesn’t spin the truth. She tells it like it is.”
9. “He’s always on time. I can set my watch by him.”
10. “She has strong convictions. She doesn’t blow in the wind.”
11. “He’s respectful, even when he doesn’t agree with me.”
12. “She’d never ask me to do anything that she wouldn’t do herself.”
13. “He’s a good friend. I can count on him in good times and bad.”
14. “She’s very fair — open-minded, objective, and even-handed.”
15. “I never fear that he’s withholding information from me.”

This list represents a few considerations involved in determining whether or not to trust someone. Many factors may come into play, including honesty, integrity, dependability, reliability, compassion, selflessness, authenticity, fairness, tolerance, humility, kindness, forgiveness, loyalty, commitment, and transparency.

The fact is, trusting someone is a personal decision in which everyone employs a different rating scale — giving more weight to some factors than to others. In addition, you’re not the only one judging people based on these factors; they’re judging you as well. Do you deserve to be trusted?

Are You Worthy of Trust?

Trust is not granted because you possess power, wealth, or status. Similarly, trust isn’t given because you demand or desire it. When someone places their trust in you, you’ve proven that you’re worthy of their trust and that you’ll work hard to preserve it.

All it takes is money to buy a gift, but when you grant someone trust, it’s a gift from your heart. When you place your faith in someone, you’re inviting them to join an exclusive group. After all, you’re indicating that they have met your moral standards and you’d be honored to forge a very special relationship with them. From this moment forward, you will place your trust in the palms of their hands, knowing that it will be treated with care. What’s that worth? Trust is like love. It can’t be seen, but its value is immeasurable.

Do You Deserve to Be Trusted?

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Additional Reading:
Have You Ever Totally Trusted Someone? 
The Values on Which Trust Rests
Live with Honor and Integrity
Moral Character Matters

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