Open relationships can be a great way to save failing marriages and romantic partnerships, but they take time. They also require honesty and the ability to discuss issues that can arise, such as jealousy.
While it’s not for everyone, it can be a good option for couples who want to try something new. However, it’s important to understand the rules of an open relationship for success:
1. Honesty is key
It’s important to be honest from the beginning of any open relationship. It’s the best way to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings down the road. In a healthy relationship, honesty can help you both be more open-minded and encourage acceptance of one another.
It also helps to have clear, concrete rules on how your open relationship will work. This includes emotional and physical boundaries. For example, you may want to discuss how many external partners you’re allowed to have and whether you both have veto power over those relationships.
It’s also a good idea to talk about any feelings of jealousy or insecurity you have. This will ensure that your partner understands that you are still deeply committed to them, even if they’re seeing other people.
2. Be respectful
The open relationship rules must include a respect for the emotions of all parties involved. If the relationship is not healthy, the couple should be willing to see red flags and back out before it’s too late.
It is important for couples to discuss their emotional boundaries and physical boundaries with each other before deciding to enter into an open relationship. Then, they should regularly check in to provide a safe space to express their feelings and reassess their boundaries as needed.
One of the biggest reasons why open relationships fail is because jealousy can arise. This is a natural reaction to feeling insecure about someone you love, so it’s important for both partners to be irrevocably confident in their feelings for each other.
3. Don’t feel guilty
Open relationships can be a great way to explore new romantic connections. However, it’s important to remember that your primary relationship should always come first.
Many people seek out open relationships because they are not satisfied with monogamous relationships, or because they want to add sex and intimacy to their current relationships. Whatever your reasons, make sure you both agree on how much transparency you want regarding your partner’s outside flings.
This will help to avoid feelings of insecurity and jealousy. It is also helpful to discuss sexual boundaries from the outset, such as penetrative sex, oral sex, and kissing. It’s important to regularly check-in and re-evaluate these boundaries. You can do this by engaging in personal growth, reading books, and seeking guidance from therapists who have experience with open relationships.
4. Have fun
Open relationships are complex juggling acts of people’s time and emotions. They need to be managed in healthy ways, and laying rules out is one way to do that.
Having a conversation about sexual boundaries at the start of your open relationship can be incredibly helpful. This can help you to hone in on what is important to both of you, and set the stage for how the dynamic will play out.
This can be a difficult topic to discuss, but it is necessary. It’s also vital that both partners are honest and upfront. This can help to avoid hurt feelings or accusations of cheating. It can also help to decide how much information each partner wants about the other’s outside relationships. This can include things like how many people they see, and whether or not their partner has veto power.
5. Be emotionally healthy
As with any relationship, emotional health is a big factor. Open relationships are a new and different way of being in a relationship, and they can cause all sorts of emotions. Having a strong support system and addressing any insecurities you may have is important. A therapist could help you work through your feelings and learn to manage them.
Having healthy emotional boundaries is also important in an open relationship. This is because of the juggling act that it can be to maintain both partners’ attention while allowing time for secondary relationships. If you find that you aren’t up for the emotional challenges of an open relationship, then it’s time to consider a different way of being in a relationship. The more you discuss your expectations and boundaries, the less likely you are to experience any jealousy or insecurity.Open Relationship Rules for Success
