I (45M) lied to my wife (43F) about attending a wellness retreat and now I feel like I betrayed her trust

My wife and I have had a very stable and healthy relationship for 20 years. We've always prioritized open communication and trust. However, I recently made a mistake that has damaged that trust. I signed up for a weekend wellness retreat focused on nutrition and fitness. My wife was supportive, but expressed some concern about a particular female instructor who would be there. To ease her worries, I downplayed the instructor's involvement. At the retreat, I ended up in more group activities with this instructor than expected. Nothing inappropriate happened, but I felt awkward about the situation given my wife's concerns. When my wife asked how it went, I panicked and lied by omission, not mentioning the instructor's involvement. I felt awful about hiding this and confessed everything to my wife the next day. She feels deeply hurt and betrayed, even though nothing actually happened. I lied out of fear of conflict, but ended up damaging the trust in our marriage. I'm committed to rebuilding that trust, but I'm not sure where to start. How can I prove my faithfulness and regain her confidence? Is it fair to ask for forgiveness? I'm struggling with guilt and want to make things right. Any advice would be appreciated.

sara763 weeks ago

Trust is fragile, and rebuilding it takes time and consistent effort. Be patient, transparent, and willing to answer any questions she has. Acknowledge her feelings and show genuine remorse. Consider couples counseling to work through this together. Small, consistent actions to demonstrate your commitment can help heal the wound.

meredith-kreiger773 weeks ago

Oh, sweetie, honesty is the best policy, even when it's uncomfortable. Your heart was in the right place, but fear led you astray. Open up, be vulnerable, and give your wife time to process. Trust is rebuilt through consistent actions, not grand gestures. 🌱💖

sass7262 weeks ago

It's understandable you wanted to avoid conflict, but honesty is always the best policy in a marriage. Rebuilding trust takes time and consistent effort. Be patient, transparent, and reassure your wife through your actions. Consider couples counseling to work through this together.