Where Did All the Trust Go? 

A Reflection from Barcelona

Good day from beautiful Barcelona! I'm writing this after a sun-drenched morning, full of quiet moments of reflection. Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about trust, or more precisely, its loss.

In recent conversations, I’ve felt disheartened by what seems like a diminishing sense of trust, both in society and in personal relationships. It’s not surprising, given the fact we live in a time of nearly daily, shocking disclosures. Leaders, corporations, media, and institutions we once believed operated with integrity are now routinely found spreading half-truths, full-blown lies or even worse, deep-seated manipulation.

It’s exhausting and I feel we are all left asking: Can anything be trusted anymore? Should we just accept mistrust as the new normal? Has the world lost its integrity, or was it just an illusion to begin with?

The Speed of Trust

To bring clarity to this question, I came across a book that offered an interesting and surprisingly hopeful reframe: Stephen M.R. Covey’s The Speed of Trust. Covey defines trust in practical terms: trust = character + competence. That clicked for me. Trust isn’t just a feeling, it’s something we can build through our actions.
He breaks it down as:
Character is made up of integrity (are you honest?) and intent (do you genuinely care?).​Capability is made up of skills (can you do what’s needed?) and results (have you proven you can deliver?).
This framework helps us understand that trust isn’t an abstract idea. It’s not something we either have or we don’t. It’s built choice by choice, behavior by behavior, over time.

Covey also points out that when trust is high, everything moves faster and costs less. Conversations are smoother. Decisions are quicker. Collaboration is easier. But when trust breaks down, whether in a friendship, an organization, or a society, things slow to a crawl. Miscommunication, bureaucracy, second-guessing, fear. So clearly, there is a good reason for trusting and being trustworthy. The cost is real, and it’s not just financial.

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Let’s Forge Trust With Intention

So maybe what we’re experiencing right now isn’t the end of trust. Maybe it’s a call to rebuild it more consciously, to look closely at who and what we trust, and why. And as trust evolves, so too must our discernment. Appearances can be deceiving, the need to see clearly, to pause before we believe, to ask better questions, and to look at motivations has never been more essential. Trust shouldn’t be absent, but it also shouldn’t be blind.

The sweet spot is found in discerning wisely and choosing intentionally — not just who and what to trust, but how we show up as trustworthy people ourselves. Ask yourself: Am I someone who is trustworthy? Am I living with integrity and clear intent? Am I continuing to grow in my capabilities and deliver meaningful results? It’s easy to point fingers, but important to remember that each of us contributes to the collective consciousness.

We can’t control what’s happening in the headlines. But we can choose to become more trustworthy in our own lives. We can build trust in our teams, our relationships, and our communities, not perfectly, but intentionally. We should all be vocal advocates for honesty and transparency.

So no, I don’t believe trust is gone. I believe it’s evolving. And I believe we’re being invited to become better stewards of it.

In harmony,
~ Delphine

P.S. I’d love to hear your opinion on the subject. Feel free to reply with your thoughts or join Harmoneum.com and continue the discussion in a community of people who enjoy this type of exploration. honesty and transparency.