Do You Trust Others? Do They Trust You?

Learning to trust is one of the most important elements of life. Those who trust others live calmer, more emotionally stable lives. Every bit as important, those who live their lives in ways that are trustworthy will no doubt be living their best lives.

Trust can be defined as complete confidence in a person, plan or situation. Trust is also the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others. Essentially, when we trust someone, we have confidence or faith that they’ll behave a certain way.

Learning to Trust

Consider these strategies when you want to learn to trust:

1.      Use common sense. When you first meet someone, it’s natural to be judicious in trusting the person. After all, you don’t know much about them yet. But as you get to know someone new, you can gauge how you feel about them. Do their words and actions show kindness, a caring nature and concern for others?

2.      Listen to your inner voice. When you’re with someone, what does your gut tell you about the person?

3.      Let your feelings guide you. How do you feel when you’re around the person? Do you experience discomfort or even fear when they are near you? Or do you feel relaxed and comfortable when you’re together? Discomfort can be a sign of something amiss, which could be due to a person not being completely trustworthy

4.      Notice how others seem to feel about the person. How do the people you already know appear to feel about the new person? Are they completely comfortable around them? If you know and trust others who in turn, know and trust your new acquaintance, this can be a sign that the new person is trustworthy.

If you apply these strategies, you can learn to develop trust in others. However, keep in mind that if you consistently experience fear and discomfort in the company of others or are wary of everyone you meet, you might want to seek professional counseling.

Being Trustworthy

So now you have some idea how and when trust other people. But are you worthy of others’ trust? Review these strategies to live your life in ways that encourage others to trust you.

1.      Be reliable. According to the Bloomberg Businessweek website, to be trustworthy, follow through with what you say you’re going to do. When people see you act in accordance with your word, they’ll begin to develop feelings of trust toward you. People will eventually know they can depend on you to do what you say you’ll do.

2.      Be open. We’ve all met a person who seems to be hiding something. Right away, we develop the idea that we’re not sure we can trust that person. But if a person is open and genuine with others, then people will learn about them and be more likely to trust them.

3.      Avoid “playing games” with others. Portray the real “you” to others. Avoid putting on airs or trying to be viewed as something or someone other than who you are. Tell the truth. When you behave honestly and remain true to yourself consistently, people will see that you’re trustworthy.

Trust is one of the most complex yet integral gifts you can give to others and gain from others. Learning to trust and being trustworthy are valuable goals. Developing these characteristics will enhance your relationships and build your sense of self for a lifetime.