The night ends in painful disconnection.
Most couples dont talk openly about fidelity or faithfulness because its uncomfortable.
It can be awkward and scary!
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We dont want to bring up negative, loaded topics because there can be a lot to unpack.
But when we avoid these conversations, misunderstandings happen.
Thats where things can quickly go south.
Ultimately, infidelity exists on a spectrum.
To know where we stand, we have to openly share our needs so we dont cross any lines.
So, lets break down what counts as cheatingplus how to tackle this tricky but crucial conversation.
So What’s Considered Cheating These Days?
But the truth is, there’s no universal rule about what counts as cheating.
Cheating comes down to what you and your partner decide is off-limitstogether.
This could range from flirting to having sex, and even the degrees of that may differ.
Lets takeflirtingas an example.
Some might not see either of those instances as a big deal.
As a relationship coach, I always encourage my clients to have conversations aboutboundariesas soon as they can.
If youre wondering if your behaviors could violate your partners trust, heres a simple framework.
As you’re having the"What are we?"
talk, it’s the perfect moment to dive into what loyalty looks like.
Use that as a jumping-off point.
If you cant find a casual moment, no stress.
Staying True to Your Principles
Honoringyour needsand non-negotiables isnt always easy in relationships.
When you love someone, its tempting to compromise and neglect your authentic needs to prioritize your partner.
But when you let go of your core values, you let go of who you are too.
A 2023 study shows that cheating hits hard in relationships.
No matter how beautifully you design the relationship, perfection doesnt exist.
If one of you has crossed the line, deciding whether to break up or not is nuanced.
Is the love there and can trust be rebuilt?
What led to the infidelity, and can that be meaningfully addressed?
Sometimes, infidelity can be a portal to explore and repair deeper issuesifboth partners are willing.
Other times, cheating shines a light on deeper discontent and incompatibilitythat cant be ignored.
Commitment is the highest form of love.
We all deserve to be fully chosen and to comprehend the weight of what that means.
Rokach A, Chan SH.Love and infidelity: causes and consequences.Int J Environ Res Public Health.
2023;20(5):3904.
