7 Healthy Actions in Relationships
Apr 07, 2026
Who do you trust most in your life? What have they done to earn that trust?
Now think about someone you struggle to trust. What makes the relationship feel uncertain, inconsistent, or difficult?
Trust is built through consistent actions over time. The more clearly you understand what strengthens trust and what damages it, the better decisions you can make in your personal and professional relationships.
Here are 7 healthy actions to look for in others and practice yourself as you build stronger, more trustworthy relationships.
Before we look at the actions that build trust, it is also important to recognize the warning signs that a relationship may not be healthy. In this episode of the Decide Your Legacy podcast, I share three red flags you should never ignore and how to respond with greater clarity and courage.
7 Healthy Actions in Relationships
#1. Trust Yourself
This is the most important of all 7 keys. If someone trusts themselves, they know they can successfully navigate tough circumstances. People are drawn to those who are confident. Insecurity puts off a vibe that makes others cautious. Improve your self-trust by changing your damaging core beliefs, engaging in gratitude-building activities, and strengthening your self-worth.
#2. Stop Overthinking
People overthink because they're prioritizing safety (e.g., control). Their mind won't stop focusing on saying and doing things to control the outcome (i.e., acceptance, avoiding rejection, etc.). This rarely works and is futile! Overthinking makes you vulnerable because it pulls you away from trusting your instincts. Avoid this All or Nothing Trap. Invest in self-care to get out of your head. Take risks, forcing yourself to let go of the outcome.
Build the Confidence to Trust Yourself
Building healthier relationships starts with trusting yourself. That means facing fear, quieting the overthinking, and taking courageous action even when you cannot control the outcome.
Shatterproof Yourself Lite gives you 7 practical steps to help you reduce anxiety, build confidence, and take courageous action in your life and relationships.
#3. Be Consistent
The damage caused by growing up raised by an emotionally unstable parent (i.e., addiction, untreated mental health issues, etc.) was caused by the emotional inconsistency you experienced. You never knew what to expect. Sometimes you receive love & acceptance, and at times it's anger and rejection. Consistency breeds trust. If you experience inconsistency (e.g., frustration when you would normally expect compassion), assertively ask for clarification. Do what it takes to be consistent in your reactions.
#4. Be Predictable
Consistency develops predictability. Someone is predictable when they behave the same way over an extended period of time. When you have seen over time that someone acts in your best interests 95% of the time, they are proving they're trustworthy. Here's a quick video I made on the damage of inconsistency. The cliche about trust is true: "Trust takes a lifetime to build and a moment to destroy."
“Trust takes a lifetime to build and a moment to destroy.”
#5. Prioritize Action
Believe what people do over what they say. Someone's actions tell you the truth about someone's character. The opposite is also true: when someone initially resists your feedback and then changes their behavior based on what you shared, they're building trust.
"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." ~ Albert Einstein
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”
— Albert Einstein
#6. Be Vulnerable
This means taking action, expressing feelings, and sharing opinions when you may be rejected, judged, and criticized. This means weight is not on what other people believe about you, but on what you believe about yourself. You see people's true character when you risk trusting them.
#7. Ruthless Honesty
When someone asks you for your opinion, do you tell them the truth? Surface-level honesty is easy (e.g., Where did you have lunch? Where do you work?), but emotional honesty takes courage (e.g., How do you feel about this? What's bothering you?). Bravery is required for emotional honesty because you cannot predict how they will respond to the truth.
Become Someone Others Can Trust
Trust is not built through good intentions alone. It grows when you face difficult situations, communicate honestly, and take courageous action instead of allowing fear to control you.
Shatterproof Yourself Lite will help you identify what is holding you back and take 7 practical steps toward greater confidence, healthier relationships, and a stronger life.
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7 Keys to Building Trust That Actually Lasts by Adam Gragg
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50 Excellent and Fun Relationship-Building Questions by Adam Gragg
