Broken trust rocks the very foundation of even the most secure relationships. When your partner cheats, lies to you or breaks a promise, it can really hurt. You may question whether or not the relationship is worth saving. Restoring trust in a relationship where someone has been betrayed in one way or another is no easy task. Both partners must be committed to fixing the relationship for you to have any chance of success.
A Reputation of Trust
If trust is broken in the early stage of a relationship, the betrayed partner may find it harder to forgive and move past the hurt, according to the results of a study published in the “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin” in 2008. Trust that is broken when you are just getting to know a partner can paint them as someone who cannot be trusted, and you may break off the relationship without much effort at reconciliation. However, the more time you have had with your partner to prove that they are generally reliable and can be taken at their word, the more likely you will be to stay with them and work on fixing your relationship.
Admit Your Wrongs
Before you can both move forward from the betrayal, the partner who broke the trust must take responsibility for what they did wrong. When an apology points out where you have gone wrong and how much you are aware that you hurt the other person, it is more likely to be accepted. Pay attention to your attitude and tone of voice as much as your choice of words. An example of such an apology is saying, “I am sorry for telling my friends about your secret. I was wrong. I can only imagine how hurt and disappointed you feel.”
Forgiveness for Both
Forgiveness must occur if the relationship is to have any chance of survival. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting that the betrayal took place. Rather, it will allow you to not dwell on the issue or bring it up in future disagreements. When you forgive your partner for hurting you, you will not continue to hold past mistakes over their head. You must forgive so that you can begin to heal from the hurt. If you are the partner who has broken the trust, you must also forgive yourself. If this is not done, you will not be able to move on. You may end up being resentful or frustrated with yourself, which may result in you withdrawing or lashing out at your partner. One unhappy partner in a relationship makes it more likely to fail.
Time Will Tell
Each person must be given as much time as is necessary to heal and forgive. Do not be too disappointed if things do not start to go smoothly as soon as you say you are sorry. The betrayed partner needs time to heal. The amount of time this will take varies depending on individual circumstances. If you broke the trust, your future actions must convince your partner that you are trying as hard as possible to be trustworthy. Stand by your word; do what you say you are going to do. In so doing, you can rebuild and strengthen the trust your partner has in you.
