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in which people can often be too trusting is where money is concerned. Most of us have been bombarded by the internet scams that flood into the average email inbox. It's just incredible how many predators are out there seeking out those who are too willing to trust in anybody and anything that offers a quick way to get rich.

One wonders why they bother. Surely by now everybody must have heard about them and recognize these scams for what they are. They are so blatantly obvious. But it seems there are still those who are being conned all the time. The dollar signs go "ker-ching" in front of their eyes and their common sense flies out the window. So as long as the scam artists know they might even score just a few victims from the countless people they send their messages to, it's worth their while.

These are, of course, extreme examples. A lot of us like to think we're much wiser than that - and probably a considerable percentage are. Many of us just hope we don't get conned and/or betrayed in a major way that leaves us feeling like complete idiots and/or utterly devastated.

Nevertheless, it's apparent there are a big percentage of people who do award their trust to others far too easily. These individuals may be hurt badly time and again. They may be walked all over, even stomped on (figuratively speaking, at least), yet they continue the same pattern throughout their lives. Often this has a lot to do with their pitifully low self-esteem.

At the other extreme there are a small percentage of people who trust nobody. They are often bitter, twisted individuals and never get close to anybody. In the middle there are those who are reasonably shrewd and cautious, yet still have close, warm and healthy relationships.

All of us need to be constantly assessing people as best we can for their trustworthiness. After all, the fact is that we do have to trust many people day by day without giving them the third degree and examining their credentials. Yet we will inevitably be let down by some.

Then there are others we will trust because we feel they have earned it - and still some will fail us at times. Life and humanity is complex. We cannot live life fully and allow ourselves the experience of rich relationships without also opening ourselves to the possibility of having our faith betrayed sometimes along the way.

So it's only wise that we do the best we can to increase our perception, wisdom and people skills as much as we can. That way hopefully we can minimise the times we are let down.

Learn more about this author, Ruth Woodhouse.
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