Time.

Good credentials (i.e. someone I trust trusts them) initially, then good experience with them. Trust deepens with time, but it always is interesting to me how one crack shatters it.

Stupidly no time at all, I'm pretty gullible in general.

Trust them for what? I don't have a blanket answer to this. I calibrate what people I trust with what, and how much.

Gut feeling.

Honesty.

I am always giving people the benefit of doubt and trying to see things from their perspective, which has lead me wrong many times. I don't seem to protect my "outer" world.

But that's not been true with my heart which I seem to guard - the only person I truly trusted with my innermost feelings was my husband. And he was the only person I knew who celebrated me for who I am.

I tend to trust people until I have a reason not to. Then they're dead to me.

Yes, dg, 'Zackly. That's what I mean when I say one crack shatters.

I'll let you know.

Depends what I'm trusting them with.