I’ve met people throughout my life that I have trusted, even when there were red flags. I wanted so desperately to see the good in them, even believing I could “save” them.
Then when things came to a head and I finally saw the light, all the sacrifices I made and how much I lost emotionally and financially, I was angry. I wasn’t angry at them. I was angry at myself. How could I be such a fool?!
Then I was listening to a well known speaker and he said, ”Being fooled by someone doesn’t make you a fool”. That was a really interesting statement and a turning point in healing from the situation.
Looking for the good in people isn’t foolish, it’s hopeful. We know what life is without hope and I don’t want that for myself. But that one statement helped me realize that I can be hopeful about the good in people and be smart about it too.
There are many things we have as individuals that are invaluable. When I was angry at what I had lost in the situation, I initially focused on the monetary part. But when I went back and looked at the situation, I realized that the broken trust is what hurt the most. Money comes and goes. I could make money again, but trust once it’s broken can rarely be rebuilt as good as it once was.
It finally occurred to me that my trust is too valuable to just give away. It has to be earned. That is how I learned to have hope in the good of people but be smart at the same time, because at times I may be foolish, but I’m no fool!
