Do you trust people's words, or their actions?
Trust is the foundation of every meaningful relationship.
Whether it is a friendship, a romantic relationship, a family connection, or a professional partnership, trust is what allows us to feel safe enough to be vulnerable, honest, and fully ourselves. And yet, trust is also one of the most delicate and fragile things we can build with another person.
I could write an entire short book about trust because I cannot emphasize enough how deeply it shapes every connection in our lives. When trust is present, relationships can grow deeper.
When it is broken, even the strongest connection can begin to unravel or permanently break.
We all want people in our lives whom we can truly trust, people who feel safe, reliable, honest, and consistent. More than anything, we want to know that we can count on the people we choose to let into our lives.
I believe that trust is solely built on HONESTY, RESPECT, TRANSPARENCY, and CONSISTENCY.
When we’re honest with one another, it creates a safe space for us to say things like:
“I trust this person because they’re always honest and transparent with me”
“I trust this person because they always keep their word and do what they said they would”
But what happens when trust is shattered? Can something so fragile ever be made whole again?
That is how broken trust is, it is like a fragile piece of glass that has been shattered. Once it’s broken, the damage will always remain, no matter how much you try to glue the pieces back together.
If we break a person's trust or hurt them. We do not get to decide when they heal or move past it.
Just because the mistake that broke the trust happened in the past, doesn’t diminish the fact that it happened. It doesn’t just erase and go away in a person's mind; it’s a memory that may never be erased. Hence, why it’s important to handle a person's trust delicately.
Broken trust is by far one of the most challenging things to fix in any relationship, however it can be done with accountability and changed behavior.
The challenging part that comes after the damage is done is working towards repairing trust and moving forward.
How we communicate is an important part of rebuilding trust. That means being honest about our mistakes, taking responsibility for our actions, and being mindful of how we respond, especially in difficult moments. Approaching conflict with consideration and understanding can help create space for resolution and repair.
Before we speak or act, we should pause and ask ourselves:
“How might this make the other person feel?”
“How would I feel if someone spoke to me or approached me this way?”
A trustworthy person says:
"I was wrong. Here's what happened, and here's what I'm doing to fix it."
Instead of:
"It's not a big deal. You're overreacting."
"Just let it go!”
Again, trust is built piece by piece and little things can always make a positive difference in our connections. But brushing our mistakes under the rug will never resolve anything.
Good communication followed with honesty, patience and consistency is showing the other person,
“I see you, I hear you and I will make sure that I do whatever to make sure you feel safe with me”
Rebuilding trust is hard for everyone involved. The person who was hurt carries the pain, and the person who caused it carries the consequences.
In conclusion,
Always tell the truth, no matter how big or small it may be. All it takes is one mistake and one lie to break or end a connection.