“Trust is Power” is Duracell’s newest TV slogan. It reminds us the world is full of things you can't trust. Duracell is an alkaline battery that will always make you glad that it's on your side. Duracell is a trustworthy power when you’re energizing all your important gadgets. Trust is power, and there’s no power you can trust like Duracell.
What can we do to be more trustful, and promote a powerful atmosphere of honesty around us? Below are 5 essential answers to this question:
1.
Accept your partner as
a separate person: No matter how
connected we may feel
to someone else we will always be two separate people with two independent
minds. If our partner doesn’t see things the same way we do, it doesn’t
necessarily mean they’re lying. It just means that we are two people who
observe the world from different perspectives. The more we accept this reality,
the more comfortable we can feel in accepting that we won’t agree on
everything.
By
being honest with each other, we can know and accept each other for who we
actually are, not who we want
each other to be. We can support each other for the things that make us who we
are that light us up and give our lives meaning. This steady flow of give and
take, this willingness to be truthful, even when it’s uncomfortable, helps
establish trust in each other and the relationship.
An
open exchange, no matter how hard it may feel, really does set us free; we can
accept that we are two individuals who choose to be together despite our
differences. Most important, when we make this choice, we can rest assured that
it’s because we really love each other and not just because we are drawn to the
fantasy of being together.
2.
Be honest about your feelings: Not everything we
feel in a relationship will be wonderful. Yet being honest with someone we love
doesn’t mean we have to be hurtful. Sharing life with someone means that we are
bound to notice some of their negative tendencies that get in the way of our
feelings of closeness. When we aren’t open about what we feel, we may grow
cynical. Instead of being overly critical, we should aim to be vulnerable in
exposing what we feel.
We can say things like, “I miss you when you
work all the time," or, "I feel less attracted to you when you try to
control what we do together.” These honest, direct statements may feel
uncomfortable at times, but they come from a place of openness that can actually
lead to more intimacy.
3.
Be open to feedback: Just as we should be
direct, we should be open to hearing honesty directed toward us. We should
always be willing to listen and to see things from their point of view. What
are they trying to tell us about how they are feeling toward us? Rather than
argue every small detail, we should look for truth in what our partner tells
us.
It’s important not to be defensive, reactive,
or punishing for feedback. If we fall apart when we hear criticism, then we
emotionally manipulate our partner, and encourage them to deceive us in the
future. Having a partner who feels comfortable to open up to us is the
best-case scenario for having an honest relationship in which we can both
develop ourselves.
4.
Know yourself and
your intentions: To be honest
with someone else, we must know ourselves. We have to understand what we really
think and feel about the world around us. Very often in life we are either
influenced by or conforming to a series of rules imposed on us by the culture within our family
of origin. We may get married because everyone our age is doing it.
It’s
important to differentiate ourselves from
harmful influences that don’t reflect who we are and what we want. When
we are true to ourselves, we are better able to be honest with the people
around us. We are less likely to just tell people what they want to hear or try
to cover up things about ourselves of which we feel ashamed.
5.
Make your actions
match your words: Things like saying “I
love you” or doing certain things together become a matter of routine instead
of lively choices that emerge from how we really feel. When we form an illusion
that replaces real, loving ways of relating, we often begin to feel distant t.
We may start making excuses for pulling away or we may still talk of being in
love while not engaging in behaviors that show love.
To
avoid this dishonest way of relating, it’s important to always act with
integrity and to make our actions match our words. If we say we are in love, we
should engage in behaviors toward our partner that someone else would
observe as loving.
We
should spend real, quality time with our partner, in which we slow down and
make contact. We should show our feelings, not just in words but through our body language. Saying “I love
you,” while grimacing or sighing at every move our partner makes, is not an
expression of love that matches what we supposedly feel.
“You need
to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes
every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in
your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying
to control.” (Elizabeth
Gilbert)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5
Ways to Build Trust and Honesty in Your Relationship” by Lisa Firestone
·
“Duracell Demonstrates That Trust is Power in New Brand
Campaign” by Business Wire
·
“Power You Can Trust In
Situations You Most Definitely Can't” by Duracell
No comments:
Post a Comment