How to build trust in a relationship (even if it's broken)

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How important is trust in a relationship? VERY. Without trust, there are very few opportunities for true connection and intimacy, and there aren't many places a relationship can go without these things.

If you are in a relationship that seems to lack trust, there are ways to build trust in a relationship, just as there are ways to build connection and intimacy between two people.

If you're wondering how to build trust in a relationship, we've outlined some of the best ways to build trust in your partnership below; with just a little concerted effort, you can have a safer, more trusting relationship.

Table of Contents

How to Build Trust in a New Relationship

Building trust in a relationship takes time and effort.

Be clear with your intentions

An important factor in building trust in a new relationship is making sure everyone is clear about their intentions. What type of relationship are you looking to build with this person? What kind of relationship are they looking to build with you? If there is a difference in how you perceive a healthy and secure relationship, then it needs to be understood so that everyone feels safe.

For example, if your partner doesn't want an exclusive relationship, but you do, then figuring out what your relationship will look like will be very important to how everyone feels. Will you feel safe if this relationship is not exclusive? It's okay if you both want different things, but you need to figure out how and if you can have a healthy relationship for everyone with those two different goals.

Be honest

This is closely related to the last tip on how to build trust in a relationship, as you need to be honest about what you want from the relationship and what you feel capable of in the relationship. If you're the type of person who needs a lot of reassurance in a relationship, you need to tell your partner because they can't meet your needs if they don't know about them!

Of course, this does not mean that just because you express a need in a relationship, your partner will automatically satisfy it. We can't expect to be everything to each other, but we should expect to feel secure in our relationships, so if you've been honest with your partner about what you need and he has been honest with you about their ability to meet that need, so you'll know what to expect from each other. Sometimes this can mean acknowledging that the relationship may not go where you hoped.

Set limits

Limits are a beautiful thing! Having clear boundaries in a relationship is what makes relationships strong and solid because it provides a clear framework for both partners to know what is expected and accepted in the relationship.

Sometimes it can be helpful to write down the boundaries of your relationship together. Turn it into a fun date night where you take turns pointing out the boundaries of your personal relationship and discussing them together, and you can put them in a shared space like a note on your phone that you can text when you feel like you both could use a refresher on what your agreed upon relationship boundaries are!

To be coherent

This one is a pretty simple part of building trust in a relationship: show up and be who you say you are. If your partner can't rely on you to be who you say you are, they are unlikely to feel secure in the relationship. Present yourself as you are, constantly.

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