Trust has been established traditionally as the basis of healthy relationships. When trust is betrayed or ignored, the result can be a strained relationship and fearful emotions about the integrity of future interactions.

From a holistic perspective, trust can be viewed in terms of honesty in your thoughts (mind), feelings (heart), actions (body), and soulful (spirit) connections with yourself and others.

Consider the following questions regarding trust in yourself:

• Are you living a miserable life masked by happiness?
• Are you at peace with yourself?
• Do you let your ego get in the way of decisions?
• Are you mean-streaked or good-natured?
• Do you complete projects you start?
• Do you have a problem telling little white lies?
• Are you cheating on your mate?
• Are you able to communicate your true feelings with family and friends?
• Are you being true to your potential?
• Do you feel like you deserve more in life?
• Are you doing the best you can?
• Do you externalize self-worth with material objects?

With respect to relationships with others, how would you respond to questions about trust, such as these?

• Are you always on time for scheduled appointments?
• Can you keep a secret?
• Have you ever been fired for failure to complete tasks, missing work for no reason, or repeatedly arriving late?
• If your marriage dynamic changes, are you able to admit the truth to yourself and your partner?
• Are you a good friend?
• Are you reliable and dependable?
• Do you act faithfully upon your words and intentions?
• Do you relay to others false information out of cockiness?
• If you make a mistake that affects someone else, do you remedy the situation?
• Do you see the true equal nature in all, or do you believe you are better than others?

The choice to create trusting relationships or relationships based on lies and fear is up to you. Before you think, feel, or act deceptively, determine what your motives are. Are you being dishonest in order to serve or protect yourself, or do you have another person's best interest in mind?

Interactions and conversations stemming from deceit can create a slippery slope of vulnerability and apprehension in others. People may hesitate and feel less confident about someone else's promised word, capabilities, and actions in general if they've been burned before.

When you live life consciously and with a conscience, trust comes naturally and others feel comfortable establishing bonds with you.

In order to learn, grow, and develop self-awareness insights, you have to face any lies you've been telling yourself or others. Release guilt and shame, allow the genuine you to be revealed, and form integrous connections based on truth and love, not deception and fear.

Photo: Morguefile/calgrin

Affirmations: I surrender myself to truth and it feels great! I am so empowered now that the real me is showing. I establish healthy relationships based on love, honesty, and genuine kindness. I choose conscious evolution. I make the world a better place by making improvements in myself first.