TO TRUST IN TRUSTING
Word Of The Week
TRUST
verb
to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of
I typically try to pick a word of the week unusual enough that most people probably wouldn’t know the meaning off the top of their head. This is fun because it feels like we all learn something new together, and provides an opportunity to reflect on a collective feeling. This week, though, I chose “trust”. It’s a word that seems to keep popping up in my conversations and thoughts. Obviously, we all know what it means to “trust” something or someone, but what are the underlying secrets this word holds? I’m in the process of learning how to trust myself, and in order to do that I need to fully understand what that word means.
According to Wiktionary.org, “trust” derives from Middle English around 1200. Trust: (trust, protection), and from Old Norse “traust” (confidence, help, protection). In both instances, the word “protection” is found. This implies that the act of trusting also indicates protection. As if by trusting something will protect us, it secures our protection. This new moon in Leo is surrounded by a lot of complicated, uncomfortable, and active astrology. It seems like the only thing we can do is trust that things will all work out and there is some greater purpose to it all. This can also be an infuriating thought; seen as a surrender to the fight, or denial of challenges. But what if it was actually our greatest weapon?
You know that team building game where you have a partner and you close your eyes and fall back and they catch you? How terrifying it feels to fall and simultaneously relieving it feels to be caught! I currently feel like I’m in the part of that game where I have just made the decision to let go of my balance and lean back. What’s interesting is that according to the etymology of the word “trust,” it could be that the very act of falling and believing someone is there to catch me, ensures that someone is there to catch me. If I never release my control I’ll never know what is there, waiting for me, perhaps ready to show me beautiful new horizons. And who knows, maybe I’ll fall all the way to the ground and nothing will be there to catch me after all– but if that’s the case I’ll have learned another lesson, and you never know until you try.
LOVE, JENNA
