We gain trust in others not by starting fully open, but by beginning with our guards up. Caution allows us to observe, to test the waters, and to discern intentions before exposing our vulnerabilities. As we share small truths and witness reliability in others, those guarded walls can slowly come down. Trust is not an instant gift—it is earned over time, shaped by patience, consistency, and the courage to be vulnerable when it feels safe to do so. - Charles E. O'Neal II
How trust is built
Written by Heidi M