This I Believe

Trust Can Release a River

When she told me her deepest secret I knew we had just formed an incredible bond. It was like a safe haven, she had seen the words “fall and I will catch you” in my eyes. Trust, I believe that good friendships are based on trust and non-judgment.

A few years ago I had a friend who was dealing with some issues. Though we had known each other for four years we were not very close. Despite this we had a certain silent kind of bond. She felt that she could trust me. She could put that fragile glass in my hand and know it would not shatter to the floor. She knew I would not judge her, so she confided in me about a problem she had. I accepted the words that spilled from her mouth like a dam being released. I did not judge her or think differently of her, I just listened and helped. That trust she had in me, and that non-judgment I gave to her helped her through her issues, and strengthened our friendship, bonding us together.

If you hold faith with a friend, you feel comfortable telling them intimate details and secrets. This is important to have so you don’t keep things bottled up inside, never letting that dam break free. You know that words can flow from your mouth without automatically labeling you or having people dismiss you. If you have no one to turn to, no one to confide in, you tend to begin to become depressed and angry. That’s why a trusted friend is important; they can give you perspective and a helping hand. Holding a spoken term of trust and non-judgment with a friend, opens a door that lets you admit you were wrong in a situation, without feeling horrible inside. Above all, you know they will always be there for you, through the good and the bad. When the time comes that you are lending an open ear to a friend, that straightforward listening, that acceptance, which radiates out, makes all the difference in a person’s next actions.

Because of my belief many of my friends come to me to let loose their thoughts and feelings. They come to me when they need to talk about a dilemma, whether it is everyday little issues or a big crisis. I have learned that these issues and problems would be a disarrayed clutter, turned upside down without my belief and the belief of others in the importance of trust and non-judgment. This belief gives people the freedom to release and let go of their problems.