How to Practise Polyamory
Understand that it is possible to love more than one person at a time., Understand that polyamory is not always open., Establish your own set of ethical guidelines., Be honest and open with your partner(s)., Respect your partner(s)., Be aware of...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand that it is possible to love more than one person at a time.
How you feel about one person does not have to affect how you feel about another.
Similarly, if your partner finds that they love someone else, their feelings for you may not change.
The latter can be hard to accept, but with time you can become more comfortable with this idea.
It's important to have an abundance mentality about love. -
Step 2: Understand that polyamory is not always open.
Most people associate polyamory with open relationships, in which people can initiate relationships with anyone else without needing permission from their partner.
It is also possible, however, for more than two people to be involved in an exclusive relationship, where they limit their relations to that specific group. , Are you willing to date someone whose partner doesn't know you're seeing them? Are you willing to treat all partners equally, or would you prefer to have a "primary" partner? Do you feel that you or a partner can/should be given the right to veto? These questions will probably come up along the way, and should be considered seriously to avoid hurting yourself or your partners. , Communication is essential to an open relationship.
If your partner knows what you're up to and who you're seeing, they can tell you about any problems they might have with it and you're both less likely to get hurt. , Their feelings must be important to you, and with a complicated arrangement such as this you will have to be more aware of how they feel about situations.
Try not to assume that you know how they will react, and be willing to compromise. , To say that it is unnatural to get jealous in an open relationship would be unrealistic
- everyone gets jealous sometimes.
Bear in mind that jealousy is often a sign of a deeper problem that needs to be considered, and you will have to learn how not to be jealous. , In choosing the polyamorous lifestyle, you are going against the grain and you could come up against some opposition.
Relationships where there is one man married to more than one woman (polygamy) are associated with cult leaders.
Relationships that involve same-sex relations will encounter an extra layer of scrutiny.
If there are children involved, learn to expect criticism. , That way, no one can get the wrong idea, and problems at the start of relationships will be easier to navigate. , Some partners may be happy to see you every couple of months, and some will prefer to see you every couple of days.
You'll need to be good at giving your time to each of your partners, so that you're all happy. -
Step 3: Establish your own set of ethical guidelines.
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Step 4: Be honest and open with your partner(s).
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Step 5: Respect your partner(s).
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Step 6: Be aware of jealousy.
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Step 7: Understand that this is often frowned upon by society.
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Step 8: Be open about your lifestyle choice when socializing.
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Step 9: Learn to manage your time.
Detailed Guide
How you feel about one person does not have to affect how you feel about another.
Similarly, if your partner finds that they love someone else, their feelings for you may not change.
The latter can be hard to accept, but with time you can become more comfortable with this idea.
It's important to have an abundance mentality about love.
Most people associate polyamory with open relationships, in which people can initiate relationships with anyone else without needing permission from their partner.
It is also possible, however, for more than two people to be involved in an exclusive relationship, where they limit their relations to that specific group. , Are you willing to date someone whose partner doesn't know you're seeing them? Are you willing to treat all partners equally, or would you prefer to have a "primary" partner? Do you feel that you or a partner can/should be given the right to veto? These questions will probably come up along the way, and should be considered seriously to avoid hurting yourself or your partners. , Communication is essential to an open relationship.
If your partner knows what you're up to and who you're seeing, they can tell you about any problems they might have with it and you're both less likely to get hurt. , Their feelings must be important to you, and with a complicated arrangement such as this you will have to be more aware of how they feel about situations.
Try not to assume that you know how they will react, and be willing to compromise. , To say that it is unnatural to get jealous in an open relationship would be unrealistic
- everyone gets jealous sometimes.
Bear in mind that jealousy is often a sign of a deeper problem that needs to be considered, and you will have to learn how not to be jealous. , In choosing the polyamorous lifestyle, you are going against the grain and you could come up against some opposition.
Relationships where there is one man married to more than one woman (polygamy) are associated with cult leaders.
Relationships that involve same-sex relations will encounter an extra layer of scrutiny.
If there are children involved, learn to expect criticism. , That way, no one can get the wrong idea, and problems at the start of relationships will be easier to navigate. , Some partners may be happy to see you every couple of months, and some will prefer to see you every couple of days.
You'll need to be good at giving your time to each of your partners, so that you're all happy.
About the Author
Jennifer Wells
Creates helpful guides on hobbies to inspire and educate readers.
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