How to Build Trust in a Relationship

“Loving someone is giving them the power to break your heart, but trusting them not to.” - Julianne Moore.

Trust is a complex psychological phenomenon that is essential for our social relationships. Whether in a professional or personal setting, trust allows us to work with others, form relationships, and feel safe in the world.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory is a five-tier model of human needs. The third level in this pyramid is the need for Love and Belongingness. These needs can be further broken down to include friendship, intimacy, intimate relationship, and trust. Basically, trust is an important aspect of our lives.

Trust may take years to build. It can be built over time through repeated interactions that are consistent with our expectations. However, trust can also be broken easily, and it can be difficult to rebuild.

Here, we’ll discuss the significance of trust in a relationship and offers suggestions on how to build trust with your partner.

Why Is Trust Important in a Relationship

Trust is important in a relationship because it allows us to be open to our partner. It makes us feel safe and secure. Here are the main benefits of having trust in a relationship:

1. It Builds Intimacy & Stronger Connections.

When you instill trust in the relationship, you become comfortable with your partner. You can talk to them about anything under the sun. You could confide with them with confidence and without judgment. You will feel that it’s okay to be vulnerable with them because you trust them. With this, you can build a deeper connection.

2. It Promotes Better Communication.

Trust and communication go hand in hand in a healthy and strong relationship. If you trust your partner, you will be more open and honest with them no matter how difficult the situation is. Conflict is a normal occurrence in a relationship, and healthy communication will help you and your partner resolve conflicts in a more mature way.

3. It Provides Happiness.

Trust is associated with happiness. When you feel safe and secure in a relationship, you will feel contentment. And contentment leads to happiness.

How to Build Trust in a Relationship

Some people don’t know where to begin when building trust. Oftentimes, it comes naturally or is a result of good chemistry. If you are already in a relationship, it simply follows that there had to be a level of trust to get there in the first place. But there are things you can do conscientiously to improve on that trust., it is something worth your effort if you gain the trust of each other.

1. Be Open and Honest With Your Partner.

“I don’t trust my girlfriend, so I won’t tell her.” If you’re always in doubt about your partner, you are likely to compromise the stability of your relationship over time. Be truthful about your thoughts and feelings to them, even if it’s a hard pill to swallow.

2. Respect Your Partner’s Feelings and Boundaries.

Respect and trust also come together. If you respect your partner, they are more likely to trust you. Avoid invalidating your partner’s feelings even though it seems not a big deal to you. Listen to what they need to say and make sure to not cross some boundaries without their consent. Of course, this goes both ways.

3. Keep Your Promises.

Promises should not be made to be broken; they should be made for keeps. When you keep your promise to your partner, it makes you reliable and trustworthy. If you’re not sure that you can do something, then don’t give promises. Otherwise, you’re just giving them false hopes which could lead to disappointment and distrust later on.

4. Be Consistent.

“Is trust earned or given?” you ask. Well, trust is both earned and given. When you’ve seen consistency in someone’s actions and feelings toward you, you are inclined to give them your trust because they earned it. This is because trust is built over time through consistent actions. So, be consistent with your words and actions with your partner.

5. Be a Good Listener.

Don’t listen to reply, listen to understand. When your partner is confiding something with you, take some time to listen. It makes them feel appreciated and understood.

When You Break Your Partner’s Trust

When trust is broken, it can be difficult to rebuild. The betrayed person will have difficulty trusting you again. They start to build a wall between the two of you. So, how to build trust in a relationship again? That’s a difficult question. But it should start within yourself.

You have to acknowledge that you’ve made a mistake. Ask yourself why you did what you did. If you’re sincere enough, do not wait until your partner finds out about something you’ve been keeping them. Take responsibility for your actions.

How to Trust Again After Betrayal

Rebuilding one’s trust is only possible with time, effort, and communication. If your partner betrayed you, you have to allow yourself to feel and process your emotions. Acknowledge that you’re hurt and angry with what happened. Suppressing your feelings will only make it difficult to forget what happened.

Also, you have to be honest with yourself if you have already forgiven your partner. It’s part of your healing process. If you deny giving yourself time to heal, you are making your relationship vulnerable again. Give your partner time to earn your trust back. If you think it’s not possible to trust your partner again, it’s better to end the relationship.

Although conversation after a betrayal is difficult, communication is crucial to rebuilding trust. Express your emotions towards what happened, and let them know that you need to gain your trust again.

Final Thoughts

Trust is not built overnight. But you should be perceptive about whether the trust you have for each other is there or needs work. When you work together as a team, you will achieve a satisfying level of trust in your relationship. While there is no definite approach, building trust in a relationship involves time, effort, and consistency.

Relationships built on trust are likely to be healthy and more fulfilling. Whether your relationship is romantic, platonic, or familial, trust remains to be one of the foundations of a strong and healthy relationship.