Developing trust in a relationship.

Distrust in a relationship is like termites in a house that slowly eat away at the foundation until the entire thing collapses.

The literal definition of trust is:

Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

Obviously, this doesn’t happen overnight, and there are a few warning signs to spot someone who may not be being entirely honest with you.

Pay close attention to how they treat their phone when they’re around you. If they guard it like Fort Knox, there may be something in there they don’t want you to see. If they’re open and leave it laying around unlocked, you’re most likely in the clear. Just make sure they can trust you not to snoop through it. That’s a big no-no.

Listen to how they talk to you about other people. Often times, how someone gossips about others with you, is a sign of how they’ll talk to others about you, too.

Are they fully willing to bring you around their friends? Are they perfectly okay with calling or video chatting you instead of only texting? (In other words, are they okay with you knowing their surroundings when you’re not with them?) Do they openly introduce you as their boyfriend or girlfriend to others?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, you may want to be honest with yourself and ask: Why not?

Nietzsche said:

It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy relationships.

Be sure to put effort forth building a foundation of honesty and trust, before you ask someone to put their confidence in you.

It’s simple – follow your intuition. If you think someone is being dishonest or is hiding something from you, communicate your concerns to them, and you’ll be able to read the truth in their response.

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