Let me tell you up front, you have to WANT to nip cheating behavior in the bud. If a partner or a partner wants to cheat, they will cheat. This advice is for those who are still interested in working towards a healthy and happy relationship.
One thing is for sure; relationships can be quite complicated. Take up the topic of cheating. People have different views on what is cheating and what is not cheating. Some may wonder, is this innocent flirting with a person I work with infidelity? Does it really count unless you are married? How do I know if the line is really being crossed? Is there really a line at all?
Some notions of cheating and infidelity differ depending on what part of the country you live in, different countries, and different cultures. So what’s up?
Well, first of all, there is a line to cross, and there are ways to tell if you are crossing it. Regardless of region, country, or residence, I believe there are some universal guidelines that we can agree on.
Guidelines #1
If you or your partner engage in behavior or relate to another person in a way that makes either party uncomfortable, chances are you are on the verge of complicating your relationship. If your continued idle chatter with your ex is problematic for your current partner, don’t sweep it under the rug, face it.
Guidelines #2
If you or your partner have affection for someone outside of your relationship that you invest a lot of thought into, you are in a danger zone. Some find having hot or erotic thoughts about a coworker or partner’s friend okay. Usually it isn’t. Your life will travel in the direction of your dominant thought. If you have fun fantasizing about Judy or Jim, redirect your thoughts INSIDE your own relationship.
Guidelines #3
If you or your partner think it’s okay to flirt but not touch. You’re flirting with disaster if you think you can flirt harmlessly and that’s okay. If you are married or in a committed relationship, this behavior is unacceptable. Would it be okay for you if the situation was reversed? I do not think so! The reason the flirting continues in the former may be something missing between the two of you that can be fixed before the flirting goes too far.
In any of the above scenarios, if you are getting sexual or emotional satisfaction outside of your relationship, you have trouble on your hands.
