All strong relationships have three things in common, according to Meredith Hansen, Psy.D, a psychologist and relationship expert: trust, commitment and vulnerability.
“Trust allows a couple to know that their partner is there for them, truly cares about them, is coming from a good place, and supports them,” she said.
It means keeping your word and putting your relationship first, especially when you’re confronting a decision that might compromise it, she said.
A minor example of following through is calling your spouse to tell them you’re safe if they worry when you’re running late, she said. And it means “demonstrating good character,” she said.
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Dear Margarita,
Thanks for this reminder that mutual trust is the most important element in relationship. Trust is an ongoing commodity that needs nurturing daily. Sometimes it’s little things like a hug or a heart on a text message, sometimes its bigger things, like doing something hard for your partner without expecting something in return. Each contribution to the trust fund keeps the partnership going in the right direction and helps withstand times when trust is shakier.
Such a simple but not easy concept.
Liked your article! Trust sure is a key component of a good relationship, whether marital, friendship, parent-child, mother-daughter, etc. As a Life and Relationship Coach, I find myself teaching my clients how to communicate, how to talk with and how to listen to their loved ones. A skill we haven’t often learned early in life, let alone nurtured ourselves with (having good self-talk, for example) nor nurtured our family members, we often find ourselves feeling helpless or frustrated. We think we “can’t say what we want to” without an argument or some conflict being a result. So we end up staying quiet. I love teaching these skills of assertiveness, honesty and authenticity to those who truly want to express from their hearts their truth and are unclear how best to do that. I’m so appreciative of your article on trust. Thank you again!