Trust: The Unshakable Foundation of BDSM, A Dom's perspective.

[Ma****]

Let me tell you something fundamental about this lifestyle we live and breathe: trust is everything. It’s not a bonus, not an afterthought. It’s the foundation of the entire Dominant/submissive dynamic. Without trust, you don’t have depth, you have a hollow performance without any significant meaning.

Trust isn’t something you can demand, and it sure as hell isn’t something you can take. It has to be earned. It has to be nurtured. And it has to be treated as the precious, fragile thing it is.

Trust Is a Two-Way Street

Most people think the submissive is the one who has to trust the Dominant, and that’s true. They are putting themselves in your hands, offering their vulnerability, their body, and their mind. But here’s the thing: trust goes both ways.

As a Dominant, you are trusting your submissive with your vision, your intentions, and your authority. You’re trusting them to open up to you, to be honest with you, and to grow with you. That vulnerability isn’t always obvious, but it’s there. A dynamic only works when both people show up for it fully, and that starts with trust flowing in both directions.

Trust Is Earned, Not Taken

Let’s make something clear: you don’t take trust. You don’t demand it, and you don’t assume it just because someone agrees to submit to you sincd you're in the Dom position. Trust is something you earn, moment by moment, through your actions, through your dedication and through you showing up time after time.

So, how do you earn it?

Be consistent: If you make a promise, follow through. Whether it’s enforcing a rule, showing up for a scene, or simply keeping a schedule, your submissive needs to see that you’re reliable.

Communicate openly: Talk about your intentions. Explain why you’re doing what you’re doing. Transparency is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of respect.

Respect their boundaries: Consent is sacred. If they draw a line, you respect it. No questions, no pushing, no manipulation. That respect is what builds safety, and safety is what builds trust.


Building Trust in Practice

Building trust isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the small, consistent actions that prove you’re someone they can rely on.

Start simple: Begin with small rituals or protocols—something manageable that establishes structure and stability. It could be a daily task, a greeting ritual, or even a simple check-in. These little things create a sense of reliability.

Listen deeply: Set aside time to really listen to your submissive. What are they afraid of? What do they desire? What excites them? What makes them hesitate? Listening—not just hearing—shows you care.

Own your mistakes: Nobody’s perfect, not even you. If you mess up, admit it. Apologize sincerely and make it right. Owning your mistakes shows humility, and it strengthens trust rather than undermining it.


Trust in Action

Here’s an example: Imagine your submissive hesitates before a scene. You notice. You stop. You check in. “What’s on your mind?” you ask. Maybe they’re nervous, or maybe they’re unsure about the intensity. Instead of pushing forward, you adjust, ensuring they feel safe before continuing. That’s trust in action.

Or picture this: Your submissive struggles with a protocol. They tell you they’re frustrated or overwhelmed. Instead of reprimanding them and rushing to "inflict" your punishment, you listen, adapt, and offer support. That moment of understanding builds the kind of trust that lasts.

Why Trust Is Everything

When your submissive trusts you, they give themselves to you completely—not out of ***, not out of obligation, but because they want to. They let go because they know you’ll catch them. That kind of trust makes everything more powerful, more intense, and more meaningful. This is what genuine trust is about.

And when you trust them in return, you open up to a deeper connection. You’re not just leading; you’re growing together. You’re creating something unique, something that elevates both of you. You're in the position of leadership, which means you hold the responsibility of building that trust. Make no mistake about it: leadership is responsibility.

Without trust, you’re just playing a weak superficial role. With trust, you’re building a relationship that can change both your lives for the better.

A Final Word

Earning trust isn’t always easy. It takes time, patience, and effort. But it’s worth it. Because when you have it—when you truly earn it—you create something rare and beautiful.

So don’t take trust for granted. Don’t rush it. Earn it, moment by moment, and watch as your dynamic becomes more than you ever imagined it could be.

This is the heart of what we do. It’s not just about control; it’s also about connection. And connection always starts with trust.

Yours respectfully,

Master Eli

[xr****]

Thank you for this 🖤

[Ka****]

Explained perfectly! I struggle with expressing my needs. In the beginning of our dynamic I felt embarrassed saying what I wanted / needed. It could be "simple" things like what tools I wanted him to use on me. Or how to be touched. Or even my emotions. All in *** of being laughed at. With trust it is easier to open up and I realize he will actually listen, take it in and help me through it. It makes us stronger not only in the dynamic, but also in every day life. With trust also comes subspace...... but that's for another day.

[Li****]

Wise words and a level headed perspective on sub/dom dynamics. Thankyou x

[xr****]

🖤

[Wh****]

This is useful for all the prospective and newbie subs to understand how deep the connection and trust needs to be for a dynamic to develop. There just isn't BDSM without it.

[Da****]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[ki****]

F**k man why am I crying like a baby after reading this 😭

[An****]

Very well said. THANK YOU!!

[Ke****]

Extremely well said, Master Eli! Your words almost made cry, thinking how trust is the foundation of anything great and wonderful, not just in BDSM relationships and dynamics. It is also very fragile and grows like a tiny seed that grows into a gigantic tree.

[lo****]

Ty for sharing. I wish more would read ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[Deleted Member]

This, is what I came here looking for. I think in the past I underestimated how lucky I was to find it and how rare it is. On this app all I’ve found is a new generation raised (educated) on porn and looking to emulate that, without further curiosity/research…. a combination which is more likely to be dangerous at worst and not what BDSM actually is at best.

[Ra****]

This is amazingly well written. I wish this was a foreword when signing up for an app like this. The importance of respecting this trust is vital. When this trust is broken or betrayed it makes it harder and harder each time to be *** again and harder for the next person asking for that trust to obtain it. I also am glad that trust is so closely linked to communication in this piece. ***, confusion, hurt, and loss of trust can all be rooted in or avoided by communication. Thank you!

[Deleted Member]

Yes ❤️

[Ka****]

13 hours ago, Raveryums said:

This is amazingly well written. I wish this was a foreword when signing up for an app like this. The importance of respecting this trust is vital. When this trust is broken or betrayed it makes it harder and harder each time to be *** again and harder for the next person asking for that trust to obtain it. I also am glad that trust is so closely linked to communication in this piece. ***, confusion, hurt, and loss of trust can all be rooted in or avoided by communication. Thank you!

So true! Communication is extremely important and so much can be avoided and solved!

[ta****]

This is an great take on trust! From my perspective as a submissive, finding trust in your dominant is paramount and can be challenging in new relationships. But if both show their vulnerability as they navigate through together, trust forms organically and grows stronger as the relationship blossoms.

[ac****]

Great article, thank you for sharing

[no****]

I wish more dommes understand this

[no****]

I wish that I could share this

[Yu****]

I wish I could share this with so many people

[no****]

Me three

[Pe****]

Bravo 👏👏 Very elegantly put together and much appreciated too!!

[Ki****]

Truth 👏 👏 I wish I could share this. Beautifully said.

[Deleted Member]

Very well said,!!!

[Jo****]

In all dynamics now Use the follow approach. It is what I feel creates a Positively charged space .
I approach Trust within a D/S dynamic and most of my dealings from this perspective - as long as my gut instinct does not red flag it I will approach new connections and dynamics from a position of 100% trust . In doing so I have surround myself with people that I trust. The reason for this approach is that anything that then feels off ,such as mistrust , it is noticed and discovered very quickly and can be then dealt with in the early stages.
If I happen to approach a new dynamic from a lack of trust standpoint , then I feel I have surround myself with people that i do not trust and is a lot more difficult to spot something adverse like mistrust if it is the dynamics foundation and the longer it goes unnoticed, the more difficult it would be to re-establish trust .
The advice given to me 30 years ago, trust your gut instinct and if it is telling you to stop and have a conversation, then you stop and you have a conversation .
Well said and well received @MasterEli. (and I could write an entire essay on the word unshakeable.)
Mr Porter.