When you commit to a new relationship, whether romantic or platonic, it’s crucial to have a steady and firm foundation that’s built on trust. According to certified psychologists, trust can be defined as the feeling of security and loyalty that one typically expects from their partner.
Trust enables a person to easily rely on their partner for emotional and mental support, lean on them during hard times, and be open and vulnerable without the fear of getting hurt or violated.
Trust is an essential component of any relationship; without it, there is only a hollow feeling of emptiness, no emotional intimacy or physical connection. No matter how many women’s magazines you skim through and search for strategies to build trust, it’s not that simple.
Building trust requires a lot of hard work and time. It’s one of those things that doesn’t just happen and needs to be nurtured and worked on every single day for the best results. This is why we talked to relationship experts and rounded up some helpful ways that will assist you in building trust in your relationships. Keep reading to find out!
Making an Effort to Be There When They Need You
You never know when someone is fighting an invisible war inside their heads and needs you to be there for them. Make sure to prioritize being there for your partner no matter what. Being there for them does not mean that you have to resolve all of their problems. It means you should validate their feelings, avoid defensiveness, and listen to them without judgment.
Another important aspect of relationships is understanding your partner’s love language. Love languages can be things like words of affirmation, acts of service, giving them gifts, spending quality time with them, and developing a sense of security with physical touch.
Whenever your partner feels down and needs you to be there for them, give them the support they need through their love language. You’ll be surprised at how things strong your relationship will become when you’re meeting all of your partner’s wants and needs.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Every clinical therapist expounds profoundly on the importance of communication. Lack of communication can lead to larger misunderstandings that can be very painful to deal with.
Talk to your partner about your day, ask them how their day went, share your experiences in detail, and pay attention to the things they mention. Try to be super attentive when they’re talking to you. Being attuned to how your significant other feels will show them what a great partner you are and lead to a deeper bond since you’ll be connecting with them on an emotional level.
It’s not uncommon for couples to get into arguments and disagreements. But when you do and finally can summon the energy to calm down, make sure you communicate openly with your partner about what’s bothering you.
Bottling up emotions and feelings will only lead to another outburst later. It’s better to have everything out in the open and then find a way to resolve things healthily.
Be Raw and Vulnerable
You can’t expect your partner to be open and vulnerable about themselves unless you’re willing to bust down those walls yourself.
Sharing secrets and embarrassing things about yourself can be a bit awkward at first, but when you have a supportive partner who is willing to love you unconditionally no matter what, it gets much easier.
When you decide to open up about yourself, you will feel more comfortable around your partner. This will develop a stronger bond between you two, and you both will feel more loved and accepted.
Spend Quality Time Together
Of course, if you want those meaningful and deep conversations to happen between you and your significant other, you must prioritize spending quality time together.
This does not mean just talking to each other on the phone all night long but planning date nights, discussing a movie you both watch together over lunch, having a wholesome picnic at the park, taking an art class together, etc.
There are so many ways to spend quality time together which will allow you to be emotionally and physically accessible and build a strong relationship full of trust.
Setting Boundaries is Just as Important
Any healthy relationship must have boundaries that each partner must respect and learn never to cross. Boundaries help both partners feel comfortable and safe in their relationship together.
Boundaries help to determine where we feel comfortable and uncomfortable in a relationship. If you don’t set your boundaries in the beginning, your relationship will soon start to feel unfulfilling or too overwhelming.
Make sure you openly communicate with your partner about your sexual, emotional, time, and communication boundaries. Also, ask your partner about their boundaries and ensure that you’re respecting them.
Respect is the Common Denominator in Every Relationship
This one’s a no-brainer – everyone knows how important it is to have respect for your partner no matter how tightly intertwined you two are.
Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for people to reveal their worst side when they become too comfortable in a relationship. Never forget that without respect, you cannot gain the trust of your partner.
Respecting your partner means never belittling them, talking softly instead of yelling, and making sure that you’re being constructive instead of judging and criticizing.
It’s not easy to build trust in a relationship without putting in the effort and hard work that any relationship requires. It doesn’t matter how old your relationship is; it’s always best to keep reminding yourself of the different ways to stay attuned to your partner’s wants and needs and help them feel more secure around you.
