| Trust is the basis of all human | | | | more of her heavy clothing. Each time she |
| relationships. Trust can be thought of as a | | | | gets rid of a layer of protective clothing, |
| thermometer that can measure the positive and | | | | she feels more comfortable, more in tune with |
| negative nature of a relationship. The more | | | | her environment. If the weather changes and |
| positive one feels about a person, the higher | | | | it gets cold again, the woman can put on a |
| the trust level associated with him/her.There | | | | layer of clothing for protection.So it is |
| are many different trust levels at which we | | | | when we learn to trust others with our |
| may trust others. We trust most people enough | | | | secrets, our fears, and our uniqueness. There |
| to walk around freely without expecting all | | | | is a period of time in every relationship |
| the neighbors to start shooting at us. Those | | | | when we peel off layers of protection in |
| persons who cannot trust others at even this | | | | response to the growing warm feelings we |
| remote level have great difficulty | | | | share. As we shed our protective coats, we |
| functioning in the world.However, at a more | | | | become more vulnerable to hurt or betrayal, |
| personal level, trusting your partner with | | | | but we also have the potential of building |
| your fears, dreams, and feelings is sometimes | | | | trusting relationships in which the partners |
| difficult. Just as when we were infants, our | | | | can share deep feelings and grow as |
| trust in others builds as we learn through | | | | individuals.In most relationships there are |
| experience that others will be accepting of | | | | periods of pulling away and growing closer. |
| us. The more we are exposed to positive trust | | | | These times may require us to readjust our |
| experiences, the more trust in others will | | | | protective layers or to pause in the process |
| develop.The building of a trusting attitude | | | | of shedding to make our needs for trusting |
| goes hand-in-hand with the development of | | | | less vulnerable. During these periods we |
| positive self-esteem.Imagine a young woman on | | | | learn about ourselves, particularly those |
| a tropical beach dressed in heavy winter | | | | areas about which we are most sensitive. |
| clothing. As the sun comes up in the morning, | | | | Feelings of insecurity often indicate areas |
| she begins to get warm and takes off her | | | | of our personal lives in which trust has been |
| muffler and gloves and feels better. The sun | | | | betrayed or about which we feel negatively. |
| continues to shine and the young lady sheds | | | | |