Trust is the lifeblood of any successful relationship. If you aren’t able to build it, then the relationship will break down. As such, it’s worth placing special emphasis on how to build it from the very start. Here are some helpful tips on how to build trust in a new relationship.
Start with Open and Honest Communication
Trust begins with openness and honesty. Be vocal about what you want from the relationship, and how you feel about it. Don’t be tempted to tell the other person what you think they want to hear. If you feel comfortable, then disclose personal information that you don’t want made public. This can be taken as a sign that you’re willing to put a little bit of trust in your significant other, which can in turn encourage reciprocation – and, ultimately, intimacy.
Establish and Respect Boundaries
A needy or malicious person who doesn’t respect the boundaries of their partner is not likely to be party to a rewarding relationship. Make sure that you’re not hitching yourself to such a person – and that you’re not guilty of these things yourself.
Take the time to evaluate your partner’s comfort zones, and to identify when you’ve violated them. Don’t be afraid to apologise and back off. This applies to the real world as much as the digital one. If you’re following them through social media and commenting on their viewing history, you’re probably in the wrong.
Prioritise Sexual Health and Wellbeing
If you’re putting your partner in physical danger, then you probably aren’t trustworthy. This means protecting them, where possible, from harmful diseases.
But, for various reasons, discussions around sexual health are rare early in a relationship. After all, if you would like to be physically intimate with your partner, broaching the topic of chlamydia might be considered unwise. After all, you probably don’t want to be associated with an unpleasant disease.
On the other hand, if you’re able to be honest about your sexual history, and to both volunteer for a chlamydia test, you’ll demonstrate a degree of commitment to the relationship – and concern for your partner’s wellbeing. After all, this condition is often asymptomatic, so you can pass it on without engaging in conscious deception.
Demonstrate Consistency and Reliability
Having an open and honest conversation about your priorities and expectations is one thing. But you’ll also need to follow words with action, and make sure that the two align. If you say you’re going to do something for your partner, make sure that you do it. Even small details matter. After all, when you fail to pick them up from work at the agreed time, you raise the possibility that you’ll fall through on other, more significant promises, too.
Address Past Experiences and Insecurities
Everyone comes with a little bit of emotional baggage. Some of us come with a lot of it. If you’ve had your trust violated in the past, then it might affect your behaviour in the future. The best approach is often to be honest about painful experiences. Ultimately, this might help your partner cut you a little slack in certain instances, and form a stronger bond with you.
