According to Merriam-Webster, trust is defined as a "firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something." The strongest relationships are formed with a solid base of trust. Trust must be earned and can easily be broken. These are facts that have been etched into our brain since the days when we were accepting that boys might not actually have cooties. As we have grown older, we have realized how true these clichés are. But what about the most important relationship to establish trust with - where are the quotes and daily reminders on how to trust yourself. How do we make it the norm to want to trust ourself and whatever our thoughts are leading us to.

Trusting yourself is a process. If you are out there learning to love and accept who you are and what you are capable of, keep going. To those looking for that push, here it is.

Why make this commitment to trusting yourself? Because to trust yourself is to understand yourself and your thought process. It is the ability to look in the mirror and have that "firm belief" Merriam-Webster was talking about. The thought is scary - I know. But it is well worth it. In today's society we are constantly being asked "why?" and pushed for more details that further explain what our point is. Wouldn't it be nice to have the confidence in yourself to assert your opinion loud and clear into the conversation. The more you trust yourself, the more you put yourself out there - jobs, relationships, discussions with family and friends. Confidence that comes from within is a great accessory to carry in everyday life.

So how does one go and find this trust? It starts with being kind to yourself. It sounds stupid, but it works. When you are having a day where things just suck, let it happen. The worst thing to do is to fight your own feelings and emotions. If you are sad, feel sad. But tell yourself, "ya it's fine I feel this way, because I'm sure there is a good reason, but I am not going to let it control my day." Believe you have the strength to push forward. Then proceed to actually go about your day. Appreciate who you are. Compliment yourself on that A you got from that brutal professor. By loving yourself you gain the confidence you need to trust yourself.

We are too often told we are wrong in any given situation just because we have a vagina instead of a penis. Most of the time it is not intentional. Men historically portray themselves as more logical thinkers while us women are seen as a bit more emotional. How we express our thoughts should not and does not dictate whether we are right or wrong in a situation. This is where trusting yourself comes in handy. By demonstrating confidence in the way you express yourself, you are letting everyone know you trust your own strength.

Trust yourself so you can show the world how great you are. Trust yourself so you can set out in the world to accomplish your wildest dreams. Trust yourself so no one sways you to believe things that go against your own values. As a wise friend once told me, "a bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on it's own wings. Always believe in yourself."