6 Things to Think About Before Getting Into an Open Relationship

If you’re reading this, then you likely know what an open relationship is, or at least you’re interested enough to read about it and find out more. You’re likely also wondering what you can do, or if there’s anything that you need to do with yourself or your current relationship before going into one. Here are a few tips.

Face Your Insecurities

We all have them, but we don’t always face them. Having an open relationship will open you up to a lot of insecurities that you may not have noticed before. Make sure you go through this with yourself and if you have a current partner them as well. Sit and talk about this and make sure this is something you can handle.

Are you a jealous person? This is an insecurity that has to be addressed before getting into an open relationship. Having jealousy rear its ugly head at any point isn’t suitable for anyone involved. Allowing it back to let it fester doesn’t do anyone any good either.

Do you feel like it’s cheating, and this is an insecurity that you have? If you think this way, then this is something that needs to be addressed. Make sure you open up about this with your current partner and lay down boundaries and rules. This way you feel confident that this isn’t a scenario where cheating behaviors arise. This will also prevent jealousy from knocking on your door.

Communication

Communication is vital in any relationship. Make sure that your communication is very open with your partner or anyone that you’re involved with. Being completely open about your needs wants, rules, and boundaries are is necessary for everyone involved. You’ll be happier, healthier, and feel more secure in the long term.

Sexual Needs

Addressing what your sexual needs are is something that you need to make sure of. Not everyone knows exactly what they want going into an open relationship. You may still not know exactly what you want. But knowing what you’re going into one for would be ideal so you can focus on that and expand your horizons. Trying out new things with your partner (s) is always a good thing and can open up the relationship even more.

Making sure that you’re open and honest about what works for you, what doesn’t work for you, and what your needs are is essential. Communication about this, even if it’s not on the top of your list of things you’re in the relationship for, is crucial. This ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Emotional Needs

Some people go into open relationships for the emotional connection more than for the sexual connection. Getting emotionally supported by many people on various levels opens up a whole alternative world. For some, this makes them happier mentally than they were before in a monogamous relationship. This doesn’t mean that they weren’t satisfied before, but they seek something more that they might not be getting from that arrangement. Or they might find that in the open relationship, they get more than they initially thought they would.

Communication here is vital, across the board, it’s important to make sure you communicate what your needs are. Whether sexual or emotional, you need to make sure they’re known and it involves everyone. Think this one over before going into a relationship, as this is a crucial component.

Personal Boundaries

Sitting down and thinking about what your boundaries are is essential. Like those reasons listed above, this is a crucial step to make sure that you and your partners are all on the same page. Not everyone is going to like what’s going on in the relationship. If you don’t set boundaries for each person on what is and isn’t acceptable, then there will be problems in the long term.

Creating boundaries for what you feel is acceptable and what isn’t is an excellent start to creating trust within a relationship. Realize that you’re dealing with other people in this, and there’s the need to respect their boundaries. You’re not the only one with them, and that’s something you need to keep in mind when going into one.

Reasons For Going Into an Open Relationship

If you haven’t talked to your partner already, or you haven’t found a couple to hook up with should you be single, you need to sit down and check your motives. This step is probably the most important out of these besides communication in being successful.

Making sure that you’re not going into it for the wrong reasons, and more for reasons such as:

• Your relationship may improve over the long term

• Communication will get better

• You’ll become more open-minded

• It will mean a healthier state of being

• Making new friends and healthier, stable relationships

• Giving you a way to explore

• Have a stronger sense of self

• More of your needs can be met

These are all substantial reasons for going into an open relationship and can open up your current connection to new avenues of exploration and communication. Or it can bring you into an established relationship and show you the joys of being within one.

No matter what you do, working on these critical points and making sure that communication and going into the open relationship for the right reasons are paramount to being successful. Not only will this improve your relationship with yourself be beneficial to you but to those that you spend time within your adventures.