Trust, but Verify

• It is human nature to trust and believe that those around us are good.  We decide to trust people blindly based on years of experience, prejudice, and assumptions.

• “Trust, but verify,” in a way, is an oxymoron since trust is about risk-taking while verification is about risk mitigation. When you have to verify, then there is no trust.  When you frequently verify, even when it is unnecessary, you spark distrust.

• Yet, we have all been disappointed many times. There are many crooks and evil-doers in the world, and being skeptical can actually save us a lot of trouble.  Hence, you should trust but keep checks and balances in place to ensure you aren’t a victim.

• Trust, but verify if it’s a life or death matter. Trust, but verify if the results are more important than your relationship.

• Let yourself take a moment of reflection. Ask yourself, “What do I know about this person?” “Why am I feeling so strongly about whether to trust them?” and “What is so special about them?”

But that’s just my take. Comment and share yours.

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