What It Takes For A Non-Monogamous Relationship To Survive
Based on my observations of people in successful open partnerships
Since my husband and I decided to open our marriage, I’ve been paying extra close attention to the progression of relationships of our non-monogamous friends. I have witnessed a few poly families grow stronger, but unfortunately, a large majority have fallen apart. I hate losing people from my life, so figuring out the magic ingredients of relationship viability is extremely important to me.
I’ve noticed a few indicators of relationship success. These are applicable to any kind of relationship, monogamous or not:
- Feeling safe to openly communicate about anything
- Willingness to listen and put in the effort to see the other person’s point of view
- Enjoying spending time together
- Being interested in your partner(s)
- Having mutual respect and desire to help each other’s lives become better
Lately, I’ve been rethinking my own relationships. What does my ideal polycule look and feel like? Who is in it? What kind of relationships do I want with each of my partners? And, most importantly, what would it take for multiple relationships to survive?
