Trust in a relationship, whether it is a romantic relationship or a relationship with a friend or family, is one of the most important building blocks for a close, healthy relationship.  It is also unfortunate how easy it is to lose trust, and how challenging it can be to rebuild.  To rebuild trust you need time, patience, and hard work; and it is possible if both people are motivated. Below are a few strategies in boosting trust within relationships:

1. Honesty and Follow Through: It is imperative to stop saying things that one may not follow through with or that do not accurately represent how one is truly feeling in a relationship.  Even white lies, the more chronic, tell the other person that they shouldn’t trust what the other person says, which can impact a relationship.

2. Vulnerability: In relationships we build trust through vulnerability.  Sometimes this happens automatically with time and daily interactions.  For example, if someone says that they will pick you up from the airport, you are trusting that they will be there.  Emotional vulnerability is important as well.  Building trust takes the will to open up to the potential risk of hurt.  For example, this could mean sharing embarrassing moments, talking about your fears, etc.  Trust is then built when that person has the opportunity to let us down or hurt us, however they follow through and allow space for vulnerability.

3. Respect: Trust can be easily lost if someone takes a condescending tone or engages in belittling or hurting another’s feelings. This doesn’t mean maintaining a formal or overly polite tone in a relationship, but it does mean remembering the basics of dignity and respect. 

4. Giving the benefit of the doubt: When it comes to building trust, this also means setting doubts aside and allowing that person to prove themselves via their actions.  In cases of infidelity or substance use issues, doubts may be slower to remove or one may be more cautious within a relationship.

5. Keep communication open: Learn and practice discussing challenging emotions in a manner that is neutral and/or non-judgmental.  If you want to rebuild trust with someone, you have to give them the opportunity to build a connection with you.

6. Give and receive: Reciprocity is very important to a solid relationship.  At times one may need more support than the other, however the relationship allows for each partner or each individual, to seek out their needs, knowing they can be supported and provide support.

For further support in develop trust and expanding on trust within your relationships, click here.