NAN-AE-10
Trust
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Nov. 14, 2017 (NAN) Ms. Peggy Dulany, the Founder of Synergos, a global non-profit organisation, says trust is a prerequisite that will enable people to feel safe and be able to express themselves openly.
Dulany said this on Tuesday at the diversity dialogue which the organisation organised in Abuja.
She underscored the need for people to develop trust for one another, saying that with trust, people would be able to listen to the point of view of others so as to empathise with them.
“It is, in general, fear that prevents us from trusting each other; it could be fear that is based on previous experience or the warnings of fearful caretakers.
“Trusting ourselves is even more important for us to be able to speak and act authentically; thereby becoming more likely to gain the trust of others,’’ she said.
Dulany said that people wanted those with whom they could frankly relate to, adding: “Having real conversations with people may seem simple but it involves a lot of courage and risk.’’
She stressed that trust was the social glue which held families, communities, organisations and societies together, saying that without trust, every agreement would be futile.
“Trust is a precursor to authenticity; the opening of the hearts of others and their own willingness to become vulnerable.
“The vulnerability becomes possible when we feel safe and risk trusting; it involves willingness to share and examine aspects of self, about which we may feel fragile or insecure.
“As we become more secure in our purpose in life, we feel safe enough to risk saying what we mean and acting more consistently, in accordance with our beliefs and principles.
“Others feel more secure and trusting with us because they know where we stand, even if they do not agree with our ideas,’’ she said.
Mrs Maryam Uwasi, Special Assistant to President on Social Protection, who commended Synergos for the dialogue, said that gratitude was a consummate heart-opener, which often arose from experiencing beauty, feeling, trusting, safety and having a sense of belonging.
“Fear is the main reason why we do not work together with others; we need trust to work together to achieve our common aims and objectives.
“In efforts to involve the youth in everything we do, there must be somebody they can trust and look up to; that is the key quality of a leader.
“Humanity gains a lot from having enough trust in ourselves and our capacities too; we ought to give up our masks and defences with which we bolster our egos,’’ she added.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Synergos, a group which aims at facilitating systemic changes in the society, is currently executing some development programmes in Kogi, Benue and Kaduna states. (NAN)
ROK/JIE/OOK
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere and Dayo Komolafe