Skepticism is a great way of guarding yourself. You know what I’m talking about when I say skepticism, right? I mean your disbelief, doubting, and/or cynicism of someone or something. Somewhere in our environment someone taught us that not everyone should be trusted. To an extent, this makes sense with this world that we now live in. You know…the con artists, fakes, manipulators, and deceivers? Being taught not to naively believe everything and everyone was for our own good. But, when did ‘not everyone should be trusted’ turn into ‘no one should be trusted’? I’m noticing more and more that a growing number of people are choosing to build walls around themselves, sheltering themselves from those who aren’t in the best package (the experts, ministers, elders, doctors, etc.). All the while, they are missing the messages meant for them because they are so concerned with the messenger. Let me rephrase this point…because it’s VERY important…

I am a firm believer that anything that you need to know will come your way when the time is right. Messages find you, you don’t necessarily find them. Your message may not come in the most socially accepted skin tone, age group, social class, or even sexual orientation! But, the message is still there and alive, nonetheless. And when you focus on what doesn’t matter—you miss what might have just saved your life, solved your problem, cleared your anxiety, or even eased your confusion. It’s a damn shame.

And this does happen. I’ve watched it happen…unfortunately.  

I’m not saying to open up and trust everyone. What I am saying is that you shouldn’t discount someone simply because they aren’t what you expected. I’ve witnessed administrators give better secrets to company growth than CEOs. I’ve watched teenagers give better advice on relationships than some self acclaimed experts. I’ve heard of mothers who had to convince the doctors that their child did have a specific disease. When was the last time you listened to someone who wasn’t what you expected?

The saddest part of all of this is that you don’t even realize that when your ignorance causes you to miss your message—you are hurt the most by it. The messenger moves on!