Trust is the factor that helps us navigate the uncertain and complex world we live in today. With the development of the internet, mobile phones, email, online chat, and social media, it has become much easier for people to connect or spend more time with colleagues than with their family or loved ones.
Trust is an indispensable element in happy and fulfilling relationships, both in personal and professional life. We need trust to be built and developed over time to create successful and meaningful partnerships.
According to the 2011 Relationship Index Survey, the top four reasons leading to relationship breakdowns are:
• Financial pressure
• Communication difficulties
• Differing values
• Lack of trust.
True trust encompasses both mood and emotion, trust in oneself and one’s own judgment, trust in others, and the ability to forgive when agreements are broken. Trust cannot be built if one person is willing while the other is not.
Two people in a successful relationship will demonstrate trust in many ways,
including the following:
• Listening to and supporting each other.
• Showing care and thoughtfulness.
• Trusting each other that each person knows what is best for themselves.
• Showing mutual respect for boundaries.
• Being a reliable support for the other.
• No matter what happens, you can still feel safe.
• Resolving conflicts in a healthy way.
• Consistency between words and actions.
• Not controlling or monitoring each other.
• Trusting each other regardless of where they are or who they are with.
• A tight, strong bond.
When a couple has built a solid relationship based on trust, they are free to be themselves. Building trust takes time, and trusting is a choice.
Life is full of uncertainties, and if you have ever been hurt, whether in the past or with a current partner, when trust is betrayed, you need to continue to trust in yourself and your intuition. It is quite common for a person to transfer their lack of trust to a new partner for fear of history repeating itself. Your previous partner or spouse made a choice, but you can move forward and take responsibility for your own happiness.
If you are stuck and feel unable to trust your own judgment, then it is time to seek professional counseling – and perhaps not the time to start a new relationship.