Teacher: Where did you learn about trust?
Me: From life.
Teacher: How is life a teacher when it isn't even alive?
Me: I learned from my own experiences trusting people and being betrayed.
Teacher: Has someone betrayed your trust before?
Me: Yes. And I've never trusted him since.
Teacher: At which moment did you learn it was correct to not trust him after he betrayed you?
Me: After the first time he did it.
Teacher: Who told you it was correct to decide so?
Me: I did. I told myself I'll never trust anyone who betrays me. They will lose my trust forever, as I'll always be suspicious.
Teacher: So, you taught yourself that this was true?
Me: Yes.
Teacher: And this principle applies to everyone you trust?
Me: Yes. But it was strengthened after other betrayals.
Teacher: So, you created a principle and allowed it to colour every other relationship after?
Me: Yes. What are you implying, that I have been unfair?
Teacher: I am merely asking questions. Why are you offended?
Me: Your questions are tinted with negativity.
Teacher: And your distrust is not?
Me: I trust myself to make the right choice.
Teacher: And have you betrayed yourself before?
Me: ...
Teacher: Why do you continue to keep yourself as counsel if you have betrayed yourself before?
Me: That's different.
Teacher: The truth is, you have trusted your nafs, and not your intelligence. You have learned from it, not from your mistakes. Your principle is born of error, not virtue. You apply one standard for others and one for yourself.
Me: But that's how I protect myself from being hurt.
Teacher: A warrior is never afraid to be hurt. You have a responsibility to correct behaviours, not leave them be. Helping others realise their errors is not dependent upon trusting them, yet you must, in order to help them.
Me: Why?
Teacher: Because you are a teacher, like me.
Me: From life.
Teacher: How is life a teacher when it isn't even alive?
Me: I learned from my own experiences trusting people and being betrayed.
Teacher: Has someone betrayed your trust before?
Me: Yes. And I've never trusted him since.
Teacher: At which moment did you learn it was correct to not trust him after he betrayed you?
Me: After the first time he did it.
Teacher: Who told you it was correct to decide so?
Me: I did. I told myself I'll never trust anyone who betrays me. They will lose my trust forever, as I'll always be suspicious.
Teacher: So, you taught yourself that this was true?
Me: Yes.
Teacher: And this principle applies to everyone you trust?
Me: Yes. But it was strengthened after other betrayals.
Teacher: So, you created a principle and allowed it to colour every other relationship after?
Me: Yes. What are you implying, that I have been unfair?
Teacher: I am merely asking questions. Why are you offended?
Me: Your questions are tinted with negativity.
Teacher: And your distrust is not?
Me: I trust myself to make the right choice.
Teacher: And have you betrayed yourself before?
Me: ...
Teacher: Why do you continue to keep yourself as counsel if you have betrayed yourself before?
Me: That's different.
Teacher: The truth is, you have trusted your nafs, and not your intelligence. You have learned from it, not from your mistakes. Your principle is born of error, not virtue. You apply one standard for others and one for yourself.
Me: But that's how I protect myself from being hurt.
Teacher: A warrior is never afraid to be hurt. You have a responsibility to correct behaviours, not leave them be. Helping others realise their errors is not dependent upon trusting them, yet you must, in order to help them.
Me: Why?
Teacher: Because you are a teacher, like me.
