How To Foster Honesty In A Relationship And Why It Is Important

When we think about honesty in a relationship, we frequently think of lying. We consider it in terms of whether or not a person lies about their relationship. Or how frequently they lie. Or the types of lies they tell. But if we merely regard honesty in a relationship as the absence of lying, we overlook an essential aspect of why honesty in a relationship is so important.

Of course, by definition, being honest means not lying. And “not lying” is unquestionably a piece of the puzzle when it comes to a happy relationship. 

Unsurprisingly, studies have shown that couples who stop lying to each other for a set length of time have easier interactions and better relationships. One study even related this improvement to participants’ general health.

However, honesty in a relationship entails far more than simply not telling lies. The ability to be open and honest with a spouse demonstrates trust and security in the relationship. 

Feeling safe enough to reveal something vulnerable or valuable about ourselves demonstrates the strength of the relationship, which is probably more important than an unintended or minor white lie here and there.

When we feel we can talk with our partners about all sides of ourselves, we open the door to a whole new degree of intimacy. 

In this article, I will expose how exactly one can foster honesty in a relationship, what it means, and why it is so important.

So, What Exactly Does Honesty In A Relationship Mean?

When we assess our authenticity or honesty in a relationship, we can ask questions like:

• Can I be honest and transparent with my partner about my thoughts and feelings?
• Is it my intention to speak all that comes to mind when it matters?
• Am I normally at ease in these discussions?

How Can I Tell If I Am Being Honest In A Relationship?

The ability to be ourselves is important to honesty. It entails displaying all aspects of our personalities and making our actions match our words. 

It’s about asking ourselves, “Am I suppressing certain elements of who I am in order to be accepted by this person or can I let them see me when I’m vulnerable? Is it possible that I’m walking on eggshells? What are you leaving out? “Are you concealing something?”

How To Increase Trust And Honesty In A Relationship

1. Maintain Consistency

Do what you say you’ll do and be someone your partner can rely on. Besides, trust is earned via actions rather than words. Show up when you say you will. Timely fulfill your promises. Nothing erodes confidence and fosters anger like broken or empty promises.”

2. Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep.

People believe they should claim they can make it and show up for someone else when they can’t because they don’t want to disappoint. However, It’s better, to be honest now and disappoint a little now than to disappoint later and erode trust.

3. Make Communication A Top Priority.

Make open communication a top priority in your relationship. Have a discussion and agree to be honest with each other about how you’re feeling, what you need, what’s working, and what isn’t. By setting this pattern, you make it easy for both of you to practice honesty.

Also read: 10 Ways and Exercises To Improve Communication In Marriage

4. Set A Good Example

Is your partner distant or not always forthcoming about how they feel? It takes time, not force, to get a closed-off person to open up. Simply leading by example is a terrific method to help your partner.

Tell them how you feel or what you’re doing, and let them follow your lead. When your partner sees that you are always honest with them, they will feel secure, to be honest with you. This is one of the best ways to foster honesty in a relationship.

5. Avoid Passing Judgement On Each Other

If someone is honest with their partner about how they feel and then is shut down or yelled at, they are less likely, to be honest in the future. 

So, if someone is being honest and vulnerable, don’t judge or punish them for it. That includes not labeling what they said as “dumb” or telling them why they’re wrong to feel the way they do. 

You want to establish an environment in which individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves; this is what creates honesty.

If someone says something that bothers you, tell them you appreciate their candour and then explain why you’re hurt. Was there another way they could have told you that would have been less painful? Inform them. 

If someone says something you wish they hadn’t said, you can tell them that’s information you’d rather not hear from them. Remember that being in a relationship requires your spouse to be able to tell you difficult things.

6. Address The Flaws

When trust is shattered in a relationship, both partners must devote actual therapeutic attention to the relationship in order to rebuild it. Betrayal provides a chance for each person to look within and mend their portion of the relational system in order to understand why trust was shattered.

Also read:  How To Rekindle A Broken Relationship

Healing damaged trust requires time and hard work. You must both be involved and collaborate on how to repair trust. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that a brief expression of forgiveness and a warm embrace may mend lost trust, the underlying causes of treachery must be understood, explored, and addressed in order for betrayal to not return.”

7. Give It Some Time

It takes time to build trust. It’s difficult to simply force oneself to trust someone when you aren’t there yet. Find techniques to make yourself feel safe and comfortable in your relationship. Committing to being completely honest with each other will be a critical first step.

Final Thoughts On How To Foster Honesty In A Relationship

It can be difficult to tell your partner the truth at times, but it is the cornerstone for trust in a healthy relationship.

If you or someone you know is having difficulty stating the truth, the seven suggestions above can help create more trust and foster honesty in a relationship.