Trust

Trust is very important in relationships. This is obvious, right? Then why is it so fragile at times when we need to trust our partner, spouse, family, or friend? We want to be able to be genuine, express complaints, concerns, and show the good or bad side of ourselves and know it won't jeopardize our relationships. Yet, often our relationships feel compromised or tentative when we do. We may feel like we walk on eggshells, fearful that we might lose the very thing we love, without trust. We may shut down, isolate and turn away from people we rely on. Not only do we require trust in others, but we must also be trustworthy. It's a two way commitment. Although trust is obviously a key ingredient to healthy long term relationships, we may take it for granted until it's too late for repair. 

~Nancy Shertok, MSW, LCSW