Trust is central to any healthy relationship – even the one you have with yourself.
Let’s face it: If you can’t trust what you tell yourself, then you can’t truly believe in yourself. It just doesn’t add up.
And until you learn to believe in yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to. And you can’t expect to really get where you’re trying to go – with exercise, eating well, or any other aspect of your life.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of this most important relationship you have – with yourself. But building trust with yourself is crucial for personal growth, self-confidence, and overall well-being.
So, how do you do it? You build up a successful pattern of following through on commitments you make to yourself – even if no one else is involved.
Because get this: YOU are enough to be involved. Your brain is always watching and listening, and you’re always building or breaking trust with it.
Does this sound a bit crazy? Not at all! You’re always talking to yourself, watching yourself, and – yes – JUDGING yourself.
So, take these steps to start TRUSTING yourself, as well.
- Take It Easy on Yourself: Use self-compassion and treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you give your friends, children or partner. Setbacks and failures occur as part of life, so remember to learn what you can, forgive yourself, and move on from mistakes or coming up short on a goal.
- Keep It Real: Set yourself up to win by establishing realistic goals. Every time you reach one, you gain more trust in yourself, more confidence, and more strength to reach the next one. Big Goals often take time, so break them down into snack size so you get there over time. Remember the old joke: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
- Face Fear: Do you ever feel scared of trying hard for something you want? Of course you do! Everyone does. But here’s the thing about courage: It doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear. It means you do what you need to do in spite of it. Think of it as F.E.A.R. – Face Everything and Rise.
- Pay Attention to You: Cultivate mindfulness — the practice of being present in the moment without judgment. How do you feel? What’s stressing you out? What’s bringing you peace? You face so many distractions and demands every day, but by being more in tune with yourself, you will stay more TRUE to yourself, too.
- Acknowledge Your Strengths: Do you focus on your shortcomings easily while struggling to point out to yourself that you’re a trusted friend, a kind neighbor, and a hard worker? Maybe you have a great sense of humor or play music beautifully. The point is: When taking your own inventory, be sure to list your assets as well as your debts.
- Seek Support: Building trust with yourself doesn’t mean you have to go it alone all the time. You’ll need guidance or support sometimes, so rely on mentors, loved ones, trainers, counselors, or others in your life when you need it.
- Express Gratitude: Be thankful for all you do every day – from exercising at the gym to caring for others, from eating right to pursuing goals at work or in hobbies.
Building trust with yourself is an ongoing journey, just like it is in any relationship. Remember that you are worthy of your own trust and love, and you hold the power to nurture deeper connections with yourself every day.
