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How to Regain Trust in Friendship

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on Last updated:

Categories Guest Posts

Trust is an essential foundation for any friendship. However, as with all intimate and personal relationships, arguments and disagreements are inevitable, all contributing to the loss of trust. Knowing how to handle such impediments speaks volumes about your character and the bond in your relationship. In such low times in your relationship, you can find ways to ensure your friend trusts you again by resolving the conflict on a lasting note. Here are some tips that can help in regaining trust in friendship.

Accepting Your Fault

The first step to regaining trust in friendship is accepting your mistake if you wronged the other person. And as you do so, you should note that you can’t control another person’s reaction to your confession. Therefore, you should be ready to deal with whatever reaction the other party will portray. Admitting that you are the offender works wonders in salvaging a friendship.

Failing to take responsibility for your fault may indicate you are not remorseful. In most cases, when we fail to own up to our actions, we tend to blame others or find excuses. Therefore, if you find yourself making excuses for a blunder, step back and reevaluate how to handle the situation. Once you own up to a mistake, it becomes easier to tender a heartfelt apology.

Respect Your Friend’s Reaction

Owning up to your actions doesn’t mean the reaction will be positive. Thus, getting angry when your confession is received negatively strains the relationship more. You should develop self-control and wait for the other party to absorb the information. Controlling your friend’s reaction to the breach of trust may be selfish. So, if they are angry, it is best to acknowledge their emotions.

Tender a Heartfelt Apology

If your friend is keen, they will notice an insincere apology. An insincere apology makes regaining trust in friendship even more difficult. Therefore, avoid words such as “but” when making an apology. A genuine apology shouldn’t contain any excuses or justifications. Owning up means acknowledging your faults and avoiding any defensive statements. Nobody wants to hear an apology such as, “Yes, I know I was wrong, but you did this first.” If you intend to mend fences and take steps towards regaining trust in friendship, ensure your apology is sincere.

Patience

Proficient writers at a top essay writing service didn’t become pros overnight. They practiced and were patient to become experts. Patience also applies to mending friendships. If you realize that you have wronged the other party right off the bat, the first instinct is to try and make amends immediately. However, sometimes, this should be different. Hurrying your friend into forgiving you may compromise the trust you have built. They may need time to process the situation and figure out how they want to go about it. Just because you want to move on from it does not mean the other party wants the same. Give them time to process the hurt you have caused them. Also, give them space by staying away.

Suppose you have tendered an apology that is some pressure off your back. In that case, you need to step back and develop strategies to ensure the mistake does not reoccur. After apologizing, notify your friend that you will be giving them time to think things through, especially if they react negatively to your explanation and apologize.

Empathize With Your Friend

It is okay to feel betrayed if you have been wronged. But you also need to put yourself in your friend’s shoes. Keep in mind that you are not immune to making mistakes, either. Therefore, you need to treat your friend how you would like to be treated if you were the one in the wrong. Regaining trust in friendship includes forgiving first to avoid lingering grudges that may ruin the friendship entirely. It would be best if you gave them a chance to make things right and hold yourself to some standard by recognizing that mistakes happen in a relationship.

To take steps towards regaining trust in friendship, you need to ask yourself pertinent questions, such as:

  • Would you like to be judged harshly for your mistakes?
  • How would you like your mistakes to reflect in your relationship?
  • How would you like to be treated if you were on the receiving end?

Do Not Be Too Quick to Throw a Friendship Away

We are always quick to pass judgment and disown the friendship when wronged. But it should be different. Long-term relationships are usually torn apart due to small indiscretions that can be rectified. Therefore, before passing judgments about your friendship status, you need to ascertain whether the friendship can be salvaged. Friends play a key role in our lives at work and school. Your colleagues may help you handle several tasks at work. In school, friends can help you get through various school challenges, including tough assignments that would have forced you to check grademiners review to find writers for hire.  

Think of the sacrifices you have put into the friendship and what the cost of throwing it all away would be. Will you regret the spontaneous decision later? If so, you do not have to decide when emotions are running high. Take some time to analyze the situation. It may be difficult to see the bigger picture instantly. However, it is essential to focus on it if it is what will cost your beautiful friendship.

Final Thoughts

While some people take pleasure in solitude, others value friendships and would love to keep a genuine friendship circle. We find unconditional support in friends during hard times and enjoy a good laugh during happy times. Friends help us find out who we are and what we stand for. Thus, a good friendship is worth salvaging. It is essential to note that the trust is built back gradually, and you will have to give the other person time to heal and think through the events that led to the breach of trust. If you find yourself in breach of your friend’s trust, you can use the tips mentioned above to build the trust back.

Jeff Campbell
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