How To Build And Maintain Trust In Your Relationships

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” –Ernest Hemingway

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Nearly all of the reasons why relationships fail is due to a lack of loyalty, honest communication and mutuality. The common theme which underlies these reasons is a lack or loss of trust.

Mistrust can manifest in a wide variety of ways, whether it be infidelity within intimate relationships or dishonesty in the professional realm. Trust is imperative to the success of any close relationship; however it appears that people violate this loyalty relatively often, the reasons for which vary as much as the people.

Trust versus Mistrust: The 4 Factors Which Define a Trusting Relationship

Trust in relationships is founded on four key factors:

1) Values

A common set of values and a willingness to respect the ones that do not overlap is essential for building trust in relationships. Shared values often contribute to a mutual recognition of priorities, which reduces dissension within relationships. Respecting others values which differ from our own can provide us with essential learnings about each individual’s strengths and virtues.

2) Integrity

Integrity in relationships presents in the form of honesty and consistency. When two people form a deep connection, there should be some level of predictability in the relationship. If one enters a relationship with someone with a very compassionate demeanour, one should be able to trust that the other person will continue to behave with integrity of character, acting with compassion throughout the relationship.

3) Mutuality

Mutuality refers to the idea of working as a team within a relationship. This is absolutely critical to sustained trust within close social connections. To feel as though one can rely upon another person, one must be sure that the other person is on the same side, and going in the same direction.

4) Commitment

Any close relationship is incomplete without some degree of loyalty. Both people in the relationship must be able to trust that the efforts they are devoting to the relationship are not being made in vain. Commitment does not need to be a burden but when in a trusting relationship can actually provide stability and predictability which builds trust.