Trust is essential in a healthy relationship. Without it, you and your partner will have a very hard time communicating, showing vulnerability, or even confiding in each other.
Maybe you have trust issues from a previous relationship that you’ve brought into this one. Or maybe you have a valid reason to be concerned about trusting your current partner if something happened in the past.
Whatever the case, it’s essential to overcome trust issues if you want to not only maintain, but strengthen your relationship. Thankfully, there are strategies you can use to build trust and strength, and start to enjoy your relationship rather than worrying about the “what ifs.”
Prioritize Communication
Communication should be the cornerstone of your relationship. Without healthy communication, you and your partner won’t accurately be able to express your needs, wants, feelings, or concerns.
Openly communicating isn’t always easy, especially when there’s already a lack of trust. Make sure when you open up to your partner that you aren’t doing so in an accusatory tone. Lead with respect, use “I” statements to share how you’re feeling, and make sure to be an active listener.
Believe That Change Is Possible
If you’re stuck with the mindset that once trust is broken, it can never be fixed, you’re likely creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. You need to be willing to forgive either yourself, your partner, or someone in the past who wronged you in order to move forward and truly believe that a trustworthy, strong relationship is possible.
Holding a grudge will only end up causing more discord in your relationship. In the long run, you’ll likely end up hurting yourself more than anything else.
Give yourself and your partner the benefit of the doubt when it comes to overcoming trust issues and building strength. Recognize that people can change and growth is possible. When you pay attention to the signs of growth, it’s easier to stay positive and realize that your relationship can thrive when you’re both willing to put in the work.
Set Healthy Boundaries
People sometimes view boundaries as a negative thing. But healthy boundaries are a great way to strengthen your relationship while letting each other know your needs.
Be respectful and clear as you state your boundaries to your partner. When you see them respecting those limits, you’ll also see how much they care about you. However, make sure boundary-setting isn’t just one-sided. Give your partner the chance to set their own limits and explain their needs and wants, too. By respecting each other’s boundaries, you’ll show care, devotion, and trust.
Look At Your Partner’s Perspective
While it’s not always easy, it can often be helpful to think about how you would feel if the shoe were on the other foot.
Try to look at your relationship from your partner’s point of view. Seek to understand them better and learn about their thoughts, feelings, and actions when it comes to different situations in your relationship. Not only will this help you feel closer to them, but you might lose some of the pain and anger you feel.
Talk to Someone
If trust is broken in a relationship, it can be difficult to repair. If someone is coming into a relationship after being hurt in the past, that can also make things rocky from the start.
Whatever trust issues you’re dealing with, it’s not impossible to strengthen your relationship from the ground up. If the strategies here aren’t working or you want to try something else, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Couples Counseling can be a great way to better understand what’s going on in your relationship. You’ll learn more about your own needs and feelings, as well as how your partner is feeling.
Counseling can also provide even more healthy, effective strategies for building trust. If you’re ready to take that step together, don’t hesitate to Contact Us to set up a complimentary consultation.