From Crisis to Cultivation of Trust

We are living in a time when trust feels fragile, almost like a luxury. Governments, media, systems, even personal relationships—mistrust has seeped into every layer of our lives. The result? Anxiety, fear, and a world where it’s easier to isolate than to connect. But what if this crisis of trust is also an invitation? What if it’s asking us to transform, to create a new foundation not just for trusting others, but for trusting ourselves?

The Cost of Mistrust
Mistrust doesn’t just happen on its own. It grows in the fertile soil of separation. The moment we divide the world into us versus them, we lose sight of what connects us. We create “the other,” and with it, fear, anger, and a narrowing of our vision.
When we see others as separate, we miss a crucial truth: the people we judge are often reflections of the parts of ourselves we haven’t made peace with. As Carl Jung suggested, what we resist in others often mirrors what we resist within.
The problem with mistrust is that it shrinks us. It makes us cautious, guarded, and reactive. And when we live like this, the world feels smaller, darker, and lonelier.

The Healing Power of Belonging
At the heart of trust is a deep, ancient need: the need to belong. From our earliest ancestors, belonging meant survival. To belong was to be protected, valued, and safe. This need is still within us, shaping how we think, feel, and act.
But what if we turned belonging on its head? Instead of asking, “Do I belong here?” imagine saying, “You belong with me.”
I learned this from a friend during a moment of personal discomfort. I had attended an event where I didn’t feel I fit in. When I shared this, she offered a simple insight: “Instead of worrying about belonging, make others feel they belong with you.”
That shift was revolutionary. The moment we extend belonging outward, we create safety for others. When people feel safe, they relax. And when they relax, trust begins to grow. Whether you’re in a retreat, a boardroom, or a family gathering, this mindset changes everything.

What’s Yours to Do?
In times of crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the world’s problems. Climate change, political unrest, wars, personal struggles—it’s too much for any one person to hold. This is where clarity becomes essential.
Ask yourself two simple questions:

1. What is mine to do?
2. What is not mine to do?

Recently, I worked with a client who was deeply anxious about a war in her home country. She felt paralyzed by helplessness. Together, we explored these two questions. Twenty minutes later, she was steady, clear, and grounded. She couldn’t stop the war, but she could focus on supporting her loved ones and contributing in ways that mattered to her.
This practice is liberating. It allows us to stop wasting energy on what we can’t control and focus fully on what we can. Trust grows when we act decisively within our sphere of influence.

A Simple Mantra for Trust
Here’s a life-changing insight: What unites is true. What divides is not.
When we choose to invest our energy in what brings people together, we align with a deeper truth. This doesn’t mean avoiding difficult conversations or pretending everything is fine. It means discerning where to place our focus. Division is loud and exhausting. Unity is quieter but infinitely more powerful.

​The poet Rumi expressed this beautifully:
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there."
That field is where trust lives. It’s where we remember our shared humanity.

The Disease of Seriousness
Many of us take life too seriously. We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, convinced that seriousness equals importance. But seriousness is often a mask for fear—a way of gripping tightly to control.
Here’s the truth: We are at our best when we’re light, curious, and playful. When was the last time you let yourself laugh freely? When did you last approach life with the wide-eyed wonder of a child?
Joy and trust are deeply connected. Joy reminds us of what’s good, what’s possible, and what’s worth trusting. To cultivate trust, we must make space for joy—whether through play, gratitude, or simply being present with the beauty around us.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Trust

1. Extend Belonging: In every interaction, silently affirm, “You belong with me.” Notice how this shifts the energy in the room.
2. Focus on What’s Yours to Do: Take a few minutes each day to write down what’s within your control and what isn’t. Let go of the latter.
3. Anchor in Unity: Before speaking or acting, ask yourself: “Does this unite or divide?” Choose unity whenever possible.
4. Listen to Understand: True trust begins with understanding. When you listen, do so with no agenda—only the intention to truly see the other person.
5. Lighten Up: Make time for joy. Dance, laugh, play, and remember that life isn’t meant to be a heavy struggle. Trust flows when we’re light and open.

The Invitation
Trust isn’t about blind faith. It’s a conscious practice of presence, love, and discernment. It’s choosing to see the humanity in others, even when it’s difficult. It’s deciding to act within your power while letting go of what isn’t yours to hold.
When we cultivate trust, we create a world where we can breathe more freely, love more deeply, and live with greater ease. This is the invitation: to transform mistrust into connection, fear into courage, and crisis into growth.

You belong with me. We belong with each other. Let’s start here.

In trust,
Bhaskar