It is difficult to achieve intimacy in a relationship unless we have the ability to trust. We tend to focus on other people when we think about trust – that is, we might ask, who out there can be trusted and who cannot? But it may be more helpful to look inside ourselves and to think about trust as something that we either do well, or not.
Some people grow up with a good ability to trust appropriately. Others, because of their early childhood and adult life experiences begin a relationship by mistrusting the other person or by placing their trust in the wrong person. Some people learn to trust for the first time during the course of professional psychotherapy.
Having a good eye for trust involves having a healthy sense of our own identities. This means having a positive self-image, the ability to value ourselves and our decisions, and a good sense for protecting our own boundaries. We need to know what we stand for and what is best for us.
Trust also involves acquiring a knack for making good judgments. When we have the self-confidence that comes with knowing and liking ourselves, as well as the ability to make life-enhancing decisions, we should be able to decide fairly easily about whom to trust.
Trust between two people emerges from a process of mutual self-disclosure – we gradually reveal more and more about ourselves to the other person until the relationship achieves a sense of emotional intimacy. The first person self-discloses only to the degree that the other person has, in a series of steps.
A good balance in communication is maintained between both people. If this balance is disrupted, it is difficult to maintain trust. For example, if one person reveals everything all at once and the other person reveals nothing at all, the balance is broken – and neither person will be able to trust the other.
The building of trust is a mutual process that takes time. We feel comfortable revealing things about ourselves when the other person has shown that he or she is willing to take the same risk. Some people trust blindly. They reveal everything all at once, expecting that the other person will be able to reciprocate immediately. What is more likely is that the other person will feel overwhelmed and may back off from closeness.
People who trust blindly may want to look into issues like boundaries, self image, and why they need to be so close so quickly. Other people find it difficult to trust at all. They may feel protected, but their walls are so high that they may never find an intimate relationship – a heavy price to pay for feeling protected.
People who have difficulty with opening themselves to trust may want to look into the source of the emotional pain that may have closed them off– and they may want to look into ways of improving their communication skills. Working through trust issues often begins with the help of a professional therapist. This can be hard work, especially if mistrusting others began with a childhood trust violation such as an early trauma. But the eventual reward of having more emotional freedom and a trusting relationship is well worth it.
Individual counseling can allow us to explore our own deepest and most intimate feelings in a safe and accepting setting with a professional trained to understand these inner processes. This confidential relationship allows us to learn to stay true to our uniqueness and feel comfortable in sharing our authentic self with another person.We can explore who can be trusted, and who can’t, as well as the features of our lives that may have led us to hide ourselves from others. Counseling can teach us how to break out of isolation and loneliness into a world of love and acceptance. It prepares us to explore an intimate relationship outside of the therapy setting.
Please call me at 949-760-7171 or text 949-244-8572 or email me at jimswaniger@gmail.com with any questions of to schedule an appointment. Click here to review my book “Building Better Relationships – A guidebook for Men.”