Trust is the basis of all good relationships and the cornerstone of good character. Trustworthy people keep their promises. They are honest, reliable, principled and never inappropriately betray a confidence. Trust is a Black Belt characteristic. To feel like a Black Belt, you must act like a Black Belt, and that means becoming a trustworthy person. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you are a trustworthy person:
- Is it a good idea to risk losing someone’s trust for a temporary gain?
- How important is trust in your relationships with friends and family?
- How often do you break promises?
- How often do you share secrets that you were told in confidence?
- How often do you overlook your principles to satisfy your wants?
Study your answers carefully to make sure you feel good about them and that you were honest. When others consider you untrustworthy, it is often because you forget how important it is to your character. A true Black Belt understands the importance of trust and makes the right choices whatever the outcome. Practice these examples of trustworthiness every day:
- Keep your promises! Don’t make a promise, unless you are able to keep it.
- Be honest. Don’t tell lies for personal gain; lies inevitably return to hurt you.
- Keep secrets told to you. Never betray a confidence or a trust.
- Have integrity and never yield to temptation. The more you act in this manner, the more people will honor you.
- Be loyal to those who matter. Don’t act in opposition to those who care about you.
- If you make a mistake, fix it, immediately. Don’t let a bad situation become worse; rectify it now.
You can become trustworthy in all your relationships once you know how. The first step is to understand that trustworthiness is a primary element of all honest relationships. The next step is to develop the habit of making trustworthy decisions in all of your actions. Once you do so, you will know that you are an honorable person. When you master trustworthiness, you master life. Trustworthiness is one of the markers for a Black Belt, but you don’t have to wait until you are a Black Belt to develop this life-skill. If you want to know more about how martial arts can help you increase your or your child’s honesty or anything else regarding either our adult or children’s’ programs, please feel free to contact the Ultimate Youth Sports Team.