Trust: Once It’s Broken, Can You Ever Get It Back?

Trust. We all know what it is, but do we truly understand how fragile it can be? According to Dictionary.com, trust is defined as “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.” Similarly, Merriam-Webster describes it as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” These definitions highlight how trust is built on a foundation of confidence and reliability. But what happens when that foundation crumbles?

When trust is broken, it often feels like there’s nothing left to hold on to. It raises the question: Can trust ever be fully restored? And if it can, how does one go about rebuilding it?

Trust: A Delicate Balance

Trust is incredibly delicate, like a piece of fine china that can shatter with the slightest impact. Once broken, it’s never quite the same. There are different levels of trust, and each one is susceptible to damage. Whether it’s trust in a relationship, a friendship, or even a professional setting, the effects of broken trust can be devastating.

Too many people carry the baggage of past betrayals into new relationships, expecting the worst before the relationship even has a chance to begin. If you walk into a new relationship with an “I don’t trust you” attitude, you might be setting yourself up for failure. Sure, you want to protect yourself from getting hurt again, but if you can’t trust your partner, why be in the relationship at all?

The Cost of Broken Trust

Breaking someone’s trust can happen in many ways, but cheating is often the most obvious and painful example. When someone cheats, it’s a slap in the face to the person who trusted them. The hurt is unforgettable, and in many cases, it’s unforgivable. You’ve probably heard the saying, “Trust is like paper, once crumbled it will never be perfect again.” It’s a fitting metaphor for how difficult it is to restore trust once it’s been broken.

Lying is another surefire way to destroy trust. Lies, whether big or small, have the power to break relationships, hearts, and even spirits. When someone lies to you, especially someone you love, it creates a rift that’s hard to mend. Love is a beautiful thing, but when it’s tainted by betrayal, it’s easy to lose faith in it entirely.

Rebuilding Trust: Is It Possible?

Can you forgive someone for breaking your trust? Yes, forgiveness is possible. But forgiveness doesn’t automatically restore trust. Trust has to be earned back, and that process takes time—sometimes more time than you might have. The person who broke your trust will have to work hard to rebuild it, and even then, there’s no guarantee they’ll succeed.

Once someone has broken your trust, it’s natural to put up walls to protect yourself from being hurt again. But if you carry that hurt into every new relationship, you might be setting yourself up for more disappointment. It’s crucial to find a balance between guarding your heart and allowing trust to flow freely.

The Bottom Line

Trust is a bond that holds relationships together, and once it’s broken, it’s incredibly difficult to repair. Whether it’s through cheating, lying, or other betrayals, breaking someone’s trust can have long-lasting consequences. While it’s possible to forgive, regaining trust is another story—one that requires effort, patience, and a lot of time.

So, protect the trust you have with your loved ones. Once it’s broken, you may never get it back the way it was before. And if you find yourself on the receiving end of broken trust, take the time you need to heal, and don’t rush to rebuild what’s been shattered. Trust is too valuable to take lightly.