Trust

I know, I am talking about trust over on my The Kitchen on Chickadee Lane blog today, too. That trust is the most important type of trust: Trust in God. It's also important to be able to trust our spouses. It's important for children to be able to trust their parents, and for parents to be able to trust their teenagers. Once trust is broken, it's nearly impossible to regain it. I know, from experience.

Trust is an important pillar in relationships, and the lack of it can lead to negativity, conflict, insecurity, depression, and anxiety. If your relationship is lacking trust, it's important to work with your partner to build it, so that you can let your guard down and be vulnerable with each other.  Very Well Mind

Here are 19 ways to rebuild trust in a relationship:

1. Make a commitment
2. Both partners take responsibility
3. Refine you communication style
4. Accept repair attempts
5. Set a time to talk about the betrayal
6. Set time for a non-negotiable weekly marriage meeting
7. Redefine new marriage rules
8. Create a culture of appreciation
9. Stop all contact with the affair partner
10. Share any necessary or unplanned encounters with the affair partner
11. Don't gossip about or trash talk your partner to others
12. Tell the true story of the betrayal
13. Create an Environment of proactive transparency
14. Understand the power of vulnerability
15. Evaluate your questions
16. Evaluate your answers
17. Take time to forgive
18. Seek professional help
19. Plan, plan, plan

Rebuilding trust takes time, commitment, willingness to forgive, and an ongoing effort to prioritize the relationship, but the returns far exceed the investment. Remember, both partners play a role in rebuilding trust. The tips outlined above provide simple actions on the journey to strengthen understanding, communication, friendship, and healing. ~Choosing Therapy An affair is not the only way to break trust with your partner; I just wanted to make that clear.