Mistrust - Distrust Becoming Our Default

Mistrust & distrust are cited as opposites to trust. Both words feature as nouns and verbs grammatically and for many the words are often used interchangeably.

The prefixes to trust (Mis & Dis) draw a fine lie between feeling and fact. Mistrust arises from intuition or unease rather than evidence, while distrust stems from experience or knowledge that erodes confidence.  

Trust is essential in life because it forms the bedrock of all human relationships, from personal to societal. A lack of trust can lead to devastating consequences for an individual's mental and emotional well-being and for the stability and progress of a community.

We all acknowledge the importance of trust yet mistrust and distrust have quietly become our default modes. In the soil of daily life, trust withers quickly while mistrust takes root and grows wild. Sooner or later, one realizes that mistrust is the forerunner of our hatred – yet by then, it has eroded many relationships.

It is almost becoming that the opposite of interpersonal trust is not mistrust - it is despair. This is because we have given up on believing that trust worthiness and fulfilment are possible from others. We have lost hope in our fellow humans. It is true, if you trust you are likely to be disappointed occasionally, but mistrust can keep you miserable all the time.

The exceptions who do not default easily are the spiritually strong. Their unwavering faith in the one divine allows them to place full trust even in fallible human beings. Their overcoming distrust or mistrust is by cultivating an inner-focused spirituality and shifting one's ultimate reliance to God. 

One must understand the core difference between worldly and spiritual trust lies in the object of that trust and its permanence. Worldly trust is placed in temporary external things like people, wealth, status, and is therefore inherently uncertain. Spiritual trust conversely is placed in a higher power or inner wisdom, considered eternal and unshakable.

Spirituality views mistrust as a spiritual weakness rooted in fear, ego, and a lack of faith in a higher power or one's own inner guidance. Mistrust originates in several areas, affecting both personal relationships and one's spiritual journey. Past traumas, betrayals, and disappointments can lead to a closed heart, which blocks the flow of love and creates distrust as a form of self-protection.

Ego can fuel mistrust by making assumptions, needing to be right, and comparing oneself to others. This can lead to suspicion, projection of one's own faults onto others, and a focus on self-preservation rather than connection.

On a broader scale, mistrust within a society or community can lead to miscommunication, isolation, and conflict. It undermines the foundation of relationships and social cooperation. 

Spirituality offers a transformative path – a journey from mistrust to faith. It begins with inner work and a shift in perspective: surrendering control, cultivating a deep belief that you are loved and cared for, even amidst uncertainty. External trust is built only after internal healing, and by releasing unrealistic expectations placed on others and to practice forgiveness.

Sant Jaidev writings in Gurbani express “I worship the One who is worthy of being worshipped. I trust the One who is worthy of being trusted. Like water merging in water, I merge in the Lord. Says Jai Dayv, I meditate and contemplate the Luminous, Triumphant Lord. I am lovingly absorbed in the Nirvana of God.” SGGS Ang1106

Be the soul blessed with Divine’s TRUST - entrusted to serve others on his behalf.