What is as Important as the Air You Breathe?

A critical part of any relationship allows you the opportunity to relax, be yourself, and depend on another person. It provides you with the safety and security you need to turn to another person for comfort, reassurance, assistance, and affection. Without it, it is incredibly difficult to develop an intimate, close connection with another person. What important component am I referring to? Trust.

Trusting another person may seem simple; yet, it can be hard for some. Trust issues can manifest in a variety of ways. For example, those who find it difficult to trust may not believe what other people say. They may feel suspicious of what others want from them and may question their intentions and motivations. So what causes trust issues?

They are often connected to negative experiences in the past—such as relationship betrayal, social rejection, trauma or heightened insecurity. These undesirable encounters often interfere with the ability to believe in others.

While it can be a challenging emotional undertaking, it is possible to overcome problems with trust. Here are a few trust-building strategies you may find useful:

Build Trust Slowly. It is important to trust people enough to allow them into your life and—in some cases—to forgive them for mistakes. Taking your time with it can sometimes help. If you find yourself trying to trust too quickly (and perhaps, too intensely), then it may be time to pull back and work up to that level of trust again.

Talk About Your Trust Issues. While you don’t need to provide every detail about what happened to you in the past, being open about why you struggle with trust can help others understand you better. By communicating with your partner, they can be more aware of how their actions might be interpreted.

Distinguish Between Trust and Control. People with trust issues often feel a need for control and this can sometimes manifest as mistrusting behavior. You might feel like you are being betrayed or taken advantage of if you don't have complete control over most situations; however...(click here to continue reading).

How to Create a Cutting-Edge Culture

I recently spoke at the largest Human Resources conference—SHRM's Annual Convention and Expo in Las Vegas, NV. The mega-session was jam-packed with 2500 attendees plus it was also held virtually worldwide. Award-winning writer and editor at the Society for Human Resource Management, Matt Gonzales, wrote this featured article for my session entitled, "How to Create a Cutting-Edge Culture: Energized. Engaged. Empowered." (click here to read article)