Sacred: Trust and Connection

 Hi Steemians! It’s been a long time since my first post- primarily because I am not computer savvy and I require a lot of help to post! The other reason is simply that I have been Very busy. I haven’t lost interest in being part of this community, so today seemed like the perfect day to “ reconnect”! It’s a snow globe day; a frozen tundra of grayscape, with tons of soft snowflakes, strong winds and four foot snowdrifts. 

 Hot coffee, a laptop (I can barely use), and thoughts (like the snowflakes), swirling around my brain. I know there is a story to be culled from the recesses of my mind (more accurately, a collection of concepts), copied and pasted from my memories and journals. I don’t even know how to copy and paste on the computer, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I am struggling to do that with my thoughts!  Like the blockchain, my thoughts are decentralized and encoded- presumably for safekeeping- but not necessarily easy to retrieve on command.

  Not yet formatted for public consumption, these thoughts create a labyrinth through my mind- a footpath of sorts, leading in many directions… so much to share… slowly taking form!

 Among the many things I think about, is the concept of “connection”. This makes good sense as a starting point for a Steemit post (whose virtual family is all about “connection”). For the sake of starting to write something, I am going to share some thoughts about this.

 In my profession as a psychotherapist, “connection” is the principle on which my work is based. It is literally the foundation upon which each patient-therapist relationship is built. A fundamental element of this connection is “trust”, and in an increasingly fragmented society where almost everything seems disposable and replaceable, trust is a hard commodity to come by. Trust is so special, because it is sacred; in this ever-changing world, when you “trust” someone or something, you feel safe- either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Trust is gained when a positive connection is sustained over time.

 Trust usually has to be earned, and once secured, the reward is a connection.  The most basic way to make a connection with someone is to understand them. To achieve this we have to hear not only the surface content of what they are saying, but the hidden messages as well. Many thoughts and feelings are masked by superficial conversation; body language and behaviors often serve as signposts for greater depth. 

Understanding is only part of the formula for connection, however. People like to feel understood… but they also really need to trust that once understood, their feelings are safe. This generally means that you  hold a person’s secrets close to your heart, don’t judge them, share with them if you have  similar thoughts or feelings, and ask relevant questions. The hallmark of showing interest in someone, is by asking them questions. Most people want to feel a sense of belonging... being connected creates that sense- either to a person, a family, or a group. 

   

Hope this post was a little thought-provoking! More thoughts to share soon! Thanks for stopping by!