Whom can you trust? It's a challenging question that will pop up time and time again during our lives. I began the week shocked and disappointed by the poisonous behaviour of someone I had called a 'friend'. However, I ended the week with this one setback being overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of good people I've met and mixed with.

This got me thinking.

When people are unkind, I can almost hear my shutters coming down and the barriers coming up! "Retreat!" is the understandable command of my fragile psyche! We all want to protect ourselves from hurt. This is all the more so when we feel low and vulnerable.

Building walls to protect ourselves is understandable but all we really do is shut ourselves off from good people who are genuinely glad to help. There are a lot of good people out there! Caution is commendable – even wise – but closing the doors to our heart is never going to be a winning strategy. Instead, I think we need to stay 'Open All Hours.'

At Moodscope, it is important that we trust others. We need strength flowing in from outside when we don't feel like we have the inner resources to cope. I'm not asking you today to find forgiveness in your heart for those who have wronged you. Forgiveness is important, but it's a big thing to ask for. Instead, I'm asking you today to open up to others... and to make the first move.

Those of us who would love to have more friends must show ourselves to be friendly – to be open for business. So many people laugh when I say I'm an introvert that I'm thinking about not saying it anymore. The truth is that I am an introvert – extremely introverted – but I'm not shy. I like engaging with people and hearing their stories, discovering what they value, and looking for ways to make them richer from our encounter.

This week then, even though wounded, I kept sharing genuine smiles, and seeking to connect with people beyond a superficial level. It worked. The right kind of people found me and I enjoyed having my faith in human nature elevated by their goodness, their kindness, and their generosity.

I've been told that when one door closes, another one opens. After this week, I would say it is perfectly OK for you to close that door, but far more important that you open other doors to the kindness of strangers and the love of true friends.

May you remain friendly, stay open all hours, and may the right people come into your life.

Lex

A Moodscope member.