I remember when I told my readership about my trip to Qatar.
Some told me to be careful. Others warned me about traveling to a Muslim country.
I told them with a smile that I’d be more likely to be mugged and beaten to a pulp on Central Park West.
Qatar is the wealthiest nation on earth. During the trip one Uber driver told me how some families have 45 to 50 cars or more. The Qatari crown owns some of the most expensive real estate in London and NYC. One of the royal palaces looked big enough to have its own ZIP code.
But imagine if I did little to no research on the place and trusted people who told me to be careful? Either I never would have taken the trip or I would have been worried the whole time I was there.
Be Open But Discerning
I am open to trusting people but align with loving advice and tune out the noise. More than that, I closely observe how people live their lives before trusting these folks. Every person who warned me about traveling to Qatar never traveled and likely based their opinion of a Muslim country on the news media and its negative reports. Why trust non travelers in all matters travel?
I assured these folks after seeing $3 million cars cruising down the street during my time in Qatar that I was essentially the bum living in the compound compared to the exorbitantly wealthy Qatari families in the vicinity.
What Makes You Trust People?
I am open to trusting anybody but proceed based on sound advice offered from like-minded people. I never trust travel advice from people who do not travel. Humans with the strongest views of foreign lands base their opinions on reports from CNN, not by actually setting foot in the country.
I do trust seasoned travelers who’ve spent time in countries where I intend to visit.
If someone offers advice, do these people have extensive experience in this area? If so, feel free to field their advice. But do not listen to these folks if they have no advice in this area.
Strangely enough, people base their entire lives on advice offered by individuals living in the shadow of fear. Why trust fear? Scared people advise you to play it safe. But true living unfolds well outside of your comfort zone. Trusting scared people keeps you comfortable, miserable and bound.
Trusting bold, clear people nudges you outside of your comfort zone but leads to fun, freeing and fulfilling choices.
Who do you trust? Whose advice did you follow to live your current life? Do you feel happy? Do you feel depressed? How you feel now about your life is the byproduct of advice you followed from specific individuals. Who are these folks? Why do you trust them?
Think long and hard before trusting someone just because the individual is a parent. I love my parents deeply but trust advice from heart-centered millionaires in terms of business before anybody else. I do trust my parent’s advice for being nice to folks and for meeting new folks. In truth, my dad and mom gave me business gems in these talismans of wisdom. As for the nuts and bolts of building a business though, I followed pro entrepreneur advice to build a framework for my professional blogging career.
Trust compassionate, successful people. Follow their advice to be compassionate, successful and at peace. Trash advice you received from inexperienced people who meant well but offered fear-filled, low energy counsel that you trusted implicitly. Relatives or close friends may mean well but if you are depressed working a job you dislike because you terribly fear losing all of your money, it may be time to rethink their advice and why you trusted them.
