Unpacking How to Rebuild Trust When It's Gone

"Trust is a fundamental aspect of meaningful interactions, developing confidence in individuals, organizations, and governments. It is a persistent trait in many living organisms, playing a crucial role in early human survival within healthy social communities. It's worth noting that trust is often misunderstood and negatively perceived. People tend to focus on the potential risks, fears, harms, and losses associated with trust rather than recognizing its positive impacts on our psychological well-being."

"At one point, I felt that all trust, for me, had vanished. I kept encountering people, organizations, and experiences where trust was an impossibility. These untrustworthy encounters can lead to isolation, which further intensifies distrust. That's when I decided to reevaluate what trust truly is and explore how it can be restored and repaired. I realized that trust has three staples: transparency, authenticity,and accountability. Moreover, your body can serve as a valuable guide in identifying trust."

Trust is fundamental to meaningful interactions, fostering confidence in individuals, organizations, and governments. Trust can be fragile and often requires intentional cultivation. Trust is frequently misunderstood and perceived negatively, with people focusing on risks, fears, harms, and losses rather than psychological benefits. Loss of trust can produce isolation and intensify distrust. Trust can be restored through transparency, authenticity, and accountability. Bodily signals can help identify trustworthiness: relaxation and comfort indicate safety, while uneasy, sinking sensations suggest caution. Affirmative body language, such as open posture and appropriate eye contact, conveys trust and supports connection.

Read at Psychology Today