What Creates Trust? by Cara Lumen

I had subscribed to her e-magazine for several months. I found her blog and subscribed to her RSS feed. Every other day or so I got a notice of something she had written. Some I stopped to read, some I copied to save, and some I skipped over knowing I wasn't ready or wasn't interested in the information.

One day I said to myself, "This has value to me. I want to become an affiliate of her work and tell others about her." And I did.

What brought to me that decision? What shift occurred to make me decide her work had value to me? How had I arrived at that point? What, I wondered, creates trust?

My process in reaching this decision, had taken time. I was drawn to her energy by all the magical ways we are drawn or led to each other. I accepted her invitation to opt in to her newsletter. It apparently came at times that worked for me, (as in not too often) and most of all, I liked what I read. I learned something, it triggered new ideas, it made a difference in my awareness and spawned new insights.

Trust often involves identifying with the person's values and respecting or being stimulated by what they say and do. Sometimes trust involves feeling safe and comfortable with someone. We trust someone's success, when we see them accomplish what we'd like to do. We trust someone's integrity when we seem the choices they make in adverse situations.

If I want to build trust with you, what do I do? I begin by expressing my true self-not some version of what I think you might want to hear. I place myself deeply in service. Then I give and give and give some more. I fill my contributions to our relationship with value. I fully participate in our exchange with joy and love and respect.

Trust is something we must build in our business and our lives. Our clients and customers must trust us to deliver what we promise. They must trust us to keep our word and act with integrity. Trust is something we must have in a nourishing relationship. We can't push trust, we can only nurture it and let it find its own footing.
Exchange Is The Reward

The reward of trust in relationships is exchange. Whether it is a service or a product or friendship, we must continually place ourselves in the service of others. Over time, they will come to trust us, our product, our services, and our friendship.

Trust comes from continued contact. Whether it is phone calls, letters, e-mails, or e-magazines, communication is the key to building trust. Who do you need to contact today? Where would you like to deepen your trust? In your work environment, in your business, in your life, bring to it the best you have within you and trust will follow.

When you have built a trusting relationship, people will have confidence in you, they will believe in you and your ability. They will have faith that you will provide value at every turn. They will ask for your service, your product, or your advice.

When we trust, when we open our eyes to another's humanness, it makes room for a natural flow of openness and affection. It clarifies our understanding of each other. Trust allows us to be honest with each other, to be affectionate, to take risks and love.

Increase the value of your service. Give more that is expected in your home, in your work, in your life. Work to build long lasting relationships that are mutually nurturing, that provide for and sustain you. As Mother Teresa said, "Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people."

Cara Lumen, MA, Your Idea Optimizer helps you turn your ideas into steady profit. As a business developer, content developer and educator, Cara helps you make money from what you already know. You can learn more about how to put your wisdom to work through her radio show www.blogtalkradio.com/passioantelyonpurpose and her Passionately On Purpose emagazine at www.caralumen.com