Trust: How to Fully Build It

Trust is one the key elements in a healthy relationship. Like all romantic relationships, trust is also not without risk. It can be scary to let yourself fully love someone and trust that they’ll remain loyal to you, won’t hurt you, and will always have your back. It can be terrifying to trust someone else with your heart, and yet trust is something that all healthy relationships need in order to survive.

Relationships, from the beginning, should have trust. If there’s been a betrayal in the relationship, there are steps to heal and overcome here. But if there hasn’t been a betrayal of any kind and you’re still struggling to fully trust your partner, you’ve come to the right place.

The good news is that when it comes to romantic relationships, trust is a lot easier to lose than it is to build. That may sound backwards, but it’s a good thing because it means that if you and your partner are serious and committed to each other and the relationship, establishing trust is going to be fairly simple.

Below I’ve broken down all the ways to fully build trust in your relationship. Implement these into your love life and watch it flourish.

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5 steps to fully build trust in your relationship:

1. Open up

The truth is, the only way to truly experience and feel everything life has to offer is through opening yourself and your heart up. You can’t be guarded in your relationships if you want to build and keep trust between you and your partner. Stay vulnerable, and open both yourself and your heart up. There’s something extremely courageous and empowering in fully opening yourself up to someone in spite of the fact that you may get hurt.

2. Communicate

Be clear about your feelings; make sure both you and your partner are actively listening and receptive to each other’s wants and needs. Through communication, you open yourself up and allow your partner to see the real you, which will only help build trust. It’s important that you and your partner stay mindful of how you’re communicating, and always talk to each other with love and respect. Say what you mean and mean what you say, and make sure your actions line up with your words.

3. Admit mistakes

No one is perfect, which is why it’s important that both of you can admit your mistakes. There’s no fault in admitting you’re wrong. In fact, it takes more courage to do so than denying it. Being able to admit when you mess up shows honesty and integrity. This will only keep the trust in your relationship strong and intact. Plus, it’s a lot easier to forgive someone and move forward when they own up to their mistakes.

4. Honesty

When it comes down to it, no matter the situation, lying is never OK—and it certainly has no place in a relationship. Even lying about something small (or telling a “white lie”) will make your partner wonder what else you could possibly be lying about. It’ll inadvertently make them question whether or not you’re being truthful with them, and vice versa.

Additionally, nothing stays hidden forever. Secrets have a way of revealing themselves in time. Lying is a surefire way to crumble trust between you and your S.O. When it comes down to it, honesty is always the best policy.

5. Give them the benefit of the doubt

Understand that not everyone is out to get you. If your partner hasn’t given you a reason to distrust them, it’s only fair that you give them the benefit of the doubt. Avoid taking your past experiences with you into your relationship. Until someone gives you a reason to not trust and question them, believe what they tell you. Remember, when it comes down to it, nothing stays buried forever.