I identify so much with your struggle there, and it's something that I work out with dS as well--that desire to be the faithful, trusting person, to be the one who believes that all some people need is one person to believe in them, to trust them, to treat them like a fellow human being.
On the other hand, I have my mother's upbringing of. "You're a woman in the world and that makes you vulnerable, and nobody's going to take care of you if you don't take care of yourself, and you deserve to take care of yourself" as well--I mean, obviously my family would always back me, but moment-to-moment I don't live in the same state, and I check under my car and in the backseat before getting in, and I lock my doors, and I cross the street if there's a pack of guys walking behind or in front of me on the sidewalk and I get a bad feeling.
I think having that faith is important, but you also have to take in the evidence people have given you. If you accept them on good faith and they repay you with bad, they get maybe one or two chances, and then you have to protect yourself. But applying it when you want to help can be so hard.
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On the other hand, I have my mother's upbringing of. "You're a woman in the world and that makes you vulnerable, and nobody's going to take care of you if you don't take care of yourself, and you deserve to take care of yourself" as well--I mean, obviously my family would always back me, but moment-to-moment I don't live in the same state, and I check under my car and in the backseat before getting in, and I lock my doors, and I cross the street if there's a pack of guys walking behind or in front of me on the sidewalk and I get a bad feeling.
I think having that faith is important, but you also have to take in the evidence people have given you. If you accept them on good faith and they repay you with bad, they get maybe one or two chances, and then you have to protect yourself. But applying it when you want to help can be so hard.