3 things you should never break

In life, human beings are prone to break things -- everything from vases and clothing to lips and legs.

But this post specifically addresses three non-tangible things that should never be broken.

Can you guess what they are?

The three things that should never be broken in life are trust, promises, and hearts.

We're all human and can acknowledge breaking one or more of these on at least a couple of occasions -- just as we can cite specific cases where others have done it at our expense.

All three of these revolve around commitment.

When you place your trust in someone, you are counting on them to come through in some way. It can be anything from babysitting your child to expecting that they'll pay their half of the rent every month.

Sometimes, though, certain situations merit a declaration of assurance -- whether written or verbal -- that the person will do something. A promise is essentially a pledge or vow that we tend to associate with wedding vows ("I promise to be there in good times and bad, in sickness and in health"). However, they may also come into play when someone has let us down in the past, as the promise serves as a pledge that they'll make good on whatever is being asked of them this time around.

Moreover, one of the most painful experiences many of us have experienced is having our heart broken by someone we love. Thereafter, we become very guarded with our feelings, resolving never to give our hearts away that easily ever again. Or, we've broken someone else's heart ourselves and likely felt a deep sense of contrition thereafter.

It's easy to see how these forms of commitment can overlap. For example, infidelity signals a breach of trust and will likely result in the victim's heart being broken. And even if the offending party did not explicitly say, "I promise to be faithful to you," it's implied when one enters into a relationship -- the only exception being an open relationship where both partners mutually agree not to remain exclusive.

What's the best way to prevent breaking someone's trust, a promise, or the person's heart?

As soon as you feel like you can no longer hold up your end of the bargain, you should be frank with the other person and tell them in advance. Don't make promises you're unsure you can keep.

And if breaking the person's heart is inevitable (e.g., you want to end the relationship), they will at least appreciate the fact that you came forward. It's always far worse when the truth comes out in more unseemly ways, like being caught cheating. Whatever you do, don't compound the problem by lying or pointing fingers.

And if you find yourself on the other side of the fence, it's up to you to decide whether your trust in that individual can ever be restored.

Broken trust can be healed and a broken heart can be mended, but it's going to take some time. In other cases, all the "sorrys" in the world won't stop the victim from kicking the other out of his or her life for good.

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