What is the relationship between trust and honesty? This interesting question influences many relationships in times of stress where trust or honesty has been compromised. In the following article we will see how they are interrelated and the importance of both in the relationship.
Trust means the ‘firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something’. Although this description does not specifically include honesty, in my opinion it is implicit in the word truth. Honesty has been put into similar categories with integrity, honor, morality, high principles, fairness, truthfulness, trustworthiness, security and trustworthiness. Most of you would agree with me that those words describe states that we would like to experience in our relationship.
Do not trust me?
If the possibility of mistrust exists, it often goes hand in hand with dishonesty. A partner may feel that the other person’s words or actions don’t add up. In my experience as a relationship coach, most women who are cheated on by their man can tell or have a feeling that it is happening. They may not have proof, but their intuition is giving them clear signs that something is up. When they confront their partner and it may not yet be the time to tell the truth and be honest about what happened, they are often asked, ‘Don’t you trust me? Don’t you believe what I tell you?
Your actions speak louder than your words
Trust and belief in another person’s words have more to do with your intuition than their words. Remember that by your communication you only transmitted 7% of the message. The rest is what we ‘get’ from tonality and body language.
trust your intuition
As a first priority I suggest clients trust their own intuition and be honest with themselves. Having said that, I have seen numerous couples who choose to stay in a relationship, whether or not they really know what is going on when they noticed their partner’s trust was shaky. Both truth and honesty can have the effect of either destroying or deepening a relationship, depending on whether the time is right and for the right reason to tell a potentially hurtful truth.
Honesty and trust
Honesty and trust go together like a picture and a frame. It is possible to have one without the other, but for the most successful and satisfying experience, you need both together.