Open relationships as a phenomenon have many benefits and can help couples achieve a greater sense of joy and freedom. Let’s explore the pros and cons open relationships offer, what you should know before pursuing one, and figure out how to make such a relationship safe for both partners.
What Exactly Is an Open Relationship?
Today, many couples are choosing a more modern approach to relationships, preferring not to give up on new opportunities with other people. So, by agreeing to an open relationship, you give your partner permission to have sexual relations with other people. And you also gain the right to date someone other than your significant other. And yes, you still remain together as a couple.
Use a Dating Site for Safety
With the development of the concept of open relationships came the need to create a special place where such people could freely communicate with each other and build new connections. Thus, a new niche was created in the world of online dating, where any with a question like “where can I encounter a couple looking for a woman near me?” can find many available options.
Thus, people looking for an open relationship today simply register on a special site of their choice, create an account, and start searching for suitable people who live in their area. This way of searching for partners is the safest possible because, in contrast to dating in real life (when looking for someone to hook up with), all users are checked by moderators. You can communicate and get to know each other in a safe space and take things as slow or as fast as you want. Safe, private, and convenient!
Make Sure You Both Understand What You’re Doing
Even though it sounds amazing at first, open relationships are not for everyone. They require a foundation of honesty, trust, and mutual respect. It also requires healthy handling of jealousy and veto power. This is why it is vital to understand what an open relationship is and if it’s the option you actually should pursue.
Sometimes, when people get tired of each other, they think that having other connections will help to save the relationship. But it turns out that both partners just don’t love each other anymore, and there’s no way having someone else will help figure things out. So have a proper conversation, discuss why you want to try an open relationship, and if both of you are sure that you still want to be together, proceed with discussing details.
Don’t Forget That You’re Still in a Relationship
The fact that you can date other people now doesn’t mean you should forget that you have a significant other. Don’t get too lost in your casual encounters. Show your partner that you still love them, spend quality time together, and work on your relationship. Check if everything suits them every now and then and if there is something they want to change about your agreement. This is what makes an open relationship safe for both of you.
Create a Safe and Healthy Environment – Talk to Each Other
One of the most important things to remember is that you’ll need to be open-minded and flexible but still don’t forget about your own comfort. If you’re not comfortable with your partner having a lot of sexual experiences, don’t remain silent until things escalate to the point that you snap. Having an open relationship for the first time is a hard job, and only you can make it a pleasure or a living hell. So if the smallest thing makes you uncomfortable or you want to stop and return to having a monogamous relationship, just say it.
There are a lot of reasons why people choose to try an open relationship, but making it a safe and pleasurable experience is the responsibility of both partners. Learn to listen to each other, don’t forget that you’re still in love, choose only the safest ways of seeking new connections, and have fun!