Definition Essay On Trust

"Can they be trusted?" is often the first question one asks himself when faced with an

unfamiliar situation. A person tends to be unsure of their own judgement when leaving the decision to someone else. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, trust is: belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. Trust does not always come easily. It is common for people to be sensitive to the stability of their trust in others. “Trust is fundamental to life. If you cannot trust in anything, life becomes intolerable—a constant battle against paranoia and looming disaster” (Importance of Trust). This form of faith is easier to break than it is to create. Trust is the phenomenon that occurs when a person falls from extraordinary heights without the slightest doubt that someone or

something will be there to catch them.
Parents are the first people children build trust with. Children are inclined to trust their parents because they believe that they would never harm them. Although most children know this to be true, there are times when they are skeptical. The first time children learn how to ride a bike is a situation in particular where trust is tested. Starting at the top of a hill and braking while riding down, there is often a terrible fear of not being able to stop or worse crashing. Although, parents will reassure their children that they would not let them fall. This is where a leap of faith is taken and all is well. Another situation is learning how to swim for the first time. Children often have a fear of not being able to hold their breath or drowning. Again, parents will assure their children that they will be safe. After building up the courage to fight their fear, children realize their parents keep this promise of protection. No matter how terrifying the situation may originally seem, parents will always be there for their children. They possess the strongest trust of all.
Beginning elementary school is an exciting time for children. This is the time where
they mingle with other kids and begin to build friendships. As a child, friendship comes easily. One simply smiles and says, "Hello" while the other reciprocates the action. These children quickly build a mutual relationship where they can talk to each other about anything and everything. They trust each other. "Feelings of safety and trust allow children to expand beyond their own needs and to begin to appreciate the needs of others. These feelings are the first steps toward becoming a caring and philanthropic person" (Building Trust). If the relationship is strong enough, it can be carried on through adolescence. As an adult, the friends one socializes with are often chosen a bit more carefully. Adults are not always as whimsical when it comes to trusting people. “It takes a conscious act of unconditional belief in that other person’s good sense, ability, honesty or sense of commitment to set the ball rolling” (Importance of Trust). They only trust someone whom they feel safe speaking to about anything. As people become more comfortable around each other, they feel safe when telling secrets. Whether these secrets are major or minor, the ability to keep them is imperative. Inability to do so will result in mistrust and possibly a tear in the relationship. Being able to trust another person is essential in maintaining a strong relationship.
Many people seem to forget that humans are not the only source of trust. Dogs are a wonderful example of trust between others. When a person takes ownership of a puppy, they are fully responsible for him or her. Owners become both a parent and a friend to their pets. “Dogs are already renowned for their ability for companionship and understanding us in a way that no other animal can” (Dogs Really Do). The health of this pet is of the utmost importance. One must take their dog to frequent check-ups, have them groomed, provide adequate food and water, and daily exercise. Pets trust that their owners will do these things because they love them. Dogs see owners as their main source of protection. They can become easily attached. Pets also see their owners as primary companions. These animals can sense when a person is taking care of them properly. When cared for appropriately, pets are innocent to the damaging results of mistrust or mistreatment. In return, they will grant their owners with unconditional love and company.
Trust is gained when a person is confident that someone or something will always be there as a safety net.

A trustworthy individual is someone who people can confide to. This person is able to keep the secrets and personal matters of another to themselves. A person is trustworthy when other people can depend on them. In order to have faith in such a person one must be able to take a risk. Fortunately, the skill of being able to trust others is developed at a very young age. Children are able to trust almost anyone because they have not had the experience of mistrust. Trust is broken easily and the consequences can be severe. Life-long relationships can possibly be torn apart when there is a loss of trust. This affects both friendships and romantically involved relationships. Luckily, humans are not the only source of trust. Pets will express love with the utmost sincerity when they are nurtured. Trust varies greatly from different viewpoints and can be expressed in numerous ways. Overall, this form of faith has a tremendous impact on the way people live and communicate. Before an individual expects to be able to trust others, they must first learn to trust

themselves.