Yes! And Yes! I’ve seen in my practice many times that in relationships, trust is a delicate thing that is hard to earn but easy to break and takes a long time to rebuild. That’s why when couples go to therapy for infidelity, it can take a lot of work and commitment. It requires consistency, reliability, and vulnerability to trust again. When you get betrayed or cheated on, the walls go up, and it is hard to break them down again. It requires a lot of time, commitment, and money. However, forgiveness is the act of letting go and not holding on to the resentment.

I’ve been networking and I realize you have to have trust, which takes years and years to build but can be easily broken with one betrayal. I was in a scholarship program in the last year of my BA degree at Hunter College for students who wanted to be in the social service field. My director and professor were coming short of the funding to pay us for the internship but eventually got it from non-profits she worked with to get $10,000. She taught us an important lesson that she said it took decades of relationship and trust to be able to get this money. When I was a senior, I was thinking, wow that’s a damn long time, no thanks, I hate networking BUT flash forward to 10 years later, I can appreciate the power of relationship building and trust and networking for your net worth! I am late in the game but it’s never too late to start.

Another example is Khloe Kardashian and Tristan’s relationship. Khloe forgave Tristan but cannot be with him anymore because she does not trust him. He cheated on her while she was pregnant with his first child, and then his second child through surrogacy. Each time was very traumatic because it was all over the news on live television and with her sister’s best friend Jordan. However, in the last season, we see that Khloe took Tristan in when his house burned down and his mom passed away and left him with his special needs son. He apologized and asked for forgiveness from the Kardashians and wanted to get back together with Khloe. I think Khloe forgave Tristian’s cheating when she allowed Tristan and his brother to move in with them while his career was also down. However, many times Tristian tries to reconcile with Khloe but she says no, because the trust is not there. She gave him too many chances and he betrayed her. There’s a saying, I don’t where it comes from. The first time you betrayed me, it was not my fault, the second time you betrayed me I was stupid and the third time you betrayed me, I am an idiot and can’t be helped. Maybe from a TV show? I don’t believe Khloe is an idiot so no trust, no relationship.

If you enjoyed this blog today and want to talk with me more about dating and your relationship, please don’t be shy and contact me I am a professional NYC Upper West Side relationship counseling therapist, who offers free 15-minute phone consultations What?! I know, it’s too good to be free.