How to Have a Radically Honest Relationship
I have been in a transparent, honest relationship for 7+ years and frequently encounter the same questions and comments:
Don’t you get jealous?
Don’t you get lonely?
What if he/she falls in love with someone else?
Was this his/her idea or yours?
I could NEVER do that. If my boyfriend was texting someone else, I’d freak.
Do you have a lot of threesomes?
A more “mainstream” title for my partner and I could be “polyamorous” or “in an open relationship”, in all honesty -- we don't resonate with any of those titles anymore. We've started saying "relationship anarchists" or simply just "none of your business". It seems putting a label on something only serves to encourage other people to pre-judge and decide they already know who you are without actually getting to know you.
The truth is: we don't fit into the box of polyamory. But we're also not monogamous. Our relationship isn't stagnant or maintained with arbitrary rules. It works because we check in with each other regularly and aren't afraid of change.
Yes – sometimes our relationship opens up for sexual intimacy with others. However, brace yourself for this surprise– most of the time it doesn’t. If anything, we're more into emotional intimacy and connection anyway, but even that can be very complicated. For us though, "dating" is the same as it is for monogamy-seeking single people: you meet someone, you are attracted to them, and you “date” to get to know each other better. Sometimes this means your initial attraction develops into a physical connection, sometimes it doesn’t. Since most of us started out in monogamous relationships and then discover other options later, our version of a relationship is generally a direct reflection of our version of monogamy. So if you are quick to have sex with people and are mainly interested in a sexual connection – this is how non-monogamy will be for you too. If you are slow to open up sexually, if you desire an emotional bond before you can be comfortable sexually – this is how non-monogamy will be for you too, and so on and so on with every combination in between.
For my partner and I, every now and then one of us will come across someone we’re sexually attracted to. Sometimes we act on it, sometimes we don’t. A lot of times the awkwardness and nervousness of sex with a new person just isn’t worth it. Its fun to talk about and there is indescribably fantastic freedom in knowing that you have permission to act. But 9 times out of 10 – that’s enough.
Here are some other examples of intimacy, which have nothing to do with sex, and are things typically not “allowed” in monogamous relationships with anyone other than your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife:
Cuddling
Kissing
Massage
Emotional intimacy
Spending any kind of quality time together with anyone else unless the other person is your trusted best friend or is of the same sex
Hand holding
Flirting
Hugging (beyond just the two second hello/goodbye bullshit hug)
Any kind of extensive communication via phone, skype, text, facebook, etc.
In our society where the majority of us are repressed, afraid to talk about our feelings and comfortable making assumptions instead of asking – any of those activities mentioned above are rarely taken at face value. They are all presumed to be leading somewhere – to sex. We are so starved for human touch, a connection, and physical intimacy that we frequently make something out of nothing and lump sexual intimacy in the same category as physical and/or emotional intimacy. Or, even worse, we feel guilty for “just” wanting to (insert activity here) for fear that we are now “leading them on” and this keeps us from sharing sweet, simple affection.
Think about this example – parents are affectionate with their children, but at some point they back off. At some point it becomes inappropriate. The parents now only have their significant other to fulfill their need for touch, and the children in turn have to find this physical affection somewhere else. And where is the only socially acceptable place to get it? A boyfriend or a girlfriend. That’s it. That partner you choose is your sole source to fill that undeniable human need. This is setting us all up for failure.
Related: Episode One - All About Polyamory {a podcast}
To me, being in a radically honest relationship contains all the comforts of monogamy {a committed partner, relationship security, and someone to grow old with} with the bull-shit factor removed – I don’t have to pretend, I don’t have to hide my feelings, and I don’t have to limit myself.
Many people apply extensive rules and constructs to their poly/open/non-monogamous relationships that are from a place of fear and insecurity that exists with two (or more) people in reaction mode carrying shit tons of personal baggage unwilling to look at their own personal short comings and triggers.
The foundation of my relationship is deep respect, total trust, and a genuine enjoyment of each other’s company. As such, we essentially have no rules other than: respect the others health/safety by practicing safe sex, and be completely transparent about communication and feelings towards other people. In other words, we share all of our thoughts and communication with all of our partners. Not out of a place of obligation, but out of a place of genuine curiosity. This also removes the burden of maintaining separate relationships, and prevents anyone from having to keep any secrets.
Here’s some things we practice personally, which could probably benefit most people regardless of relationship identification or status:
Be your own best friend
It sounds so corny, but it’s true. Get to a place where you really, truly love yourself, are able to spend time alone and genuinely enjoy your own company.
“Happiness is an inside job.”
You hear this all the time, and we all do it. “I’ll be happy when I get a new job/move to a new house/find a boyfriend”. If you’re in a position where a partner will be filling a void then you’re somewhat doomed for codependency from the start. Do whatever you need to do to be a happy, whole person unto yourself and not only will you attract that same type of person, but you will be with that person because you want to be, not because you need to be.
You should be able to get everything from one person
To be emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally fulfilled by just one person is a fatuous concept. It’s not your fault that you believe it, but let it go immediately. Seriously. We are conditioned by society to believe this and inevitably find ourselves dissatisfied in some way so we blame our partner. We conclude “something is missing”. Maybe we go to marriage counseling or start entertaining thoughts of an affair. It’s unhealthy, frustrating and ultimately unsatisfying. Be open to receiving from all types of friendships and relationships and you will find your heart and spirit more full and content than ever.
If One + One only = Two – then what’s the point?
David Deida introduces the astute concept of 3 stages of relationships. The first stage is characterized by the traditional 1950’s gender roles and sexually differentiated co-dependence and power struggles. Stage two is the “fifty-fifty”, where equality reigns supreme, we have sexually neutralized co-independence and cooperation, and our main aspiration is really just to get along. Stage three is where we finally break free of the more timid and passionless aspects of the second-stage and our partners begin to open us up to the universe more than we could ever open ourselves alone -- an equation that equals far more than two.
Love expands, it doesn’t deplete
One of the most common misconceptions of non-monogamy is that if you are loving and giving attention to someone else, it will take away from the love you have to give to your other partner (s). Many are overwhelmed at the thought of “maintaining” multiple girlfriends/boyfriends. But think about the way parents love their first child. When they add additional siblings, their love multiplies – it doesn’t divide. This same concept is true for non-monogamy, if you are practicing in an inclusive fashion (versus maintaining multiple separate relationships.)
If you love them, let them go
This idea is the hardest for most to wrap their minds around, but it is the answer to “What if he/she falls in love with someone else?” One of the keys for me was getting to a place where, if my partner fell in love and would be happier with someone else – I would never ever want to keep him from that. I want him to be with me because he wants to be, not out of some weird obligation or fear for my well being. In a way, it is sort of a catch 22 with non-monogamy. If he falls in love with someone else – that’s fine because he doesn’t have to choose, so the likelihood of our separation is slim to none. This is the beauty of open love.
Let go of your attachment to a particular outcome
Even the big ones like “growing old together”. Your commitment must be to each other’s happiness and personal growth. Even though you may picture yourselves together forever, sometimes to love someone in the deepest way is to let them go if that’s what will serve their higher self. Practicing non-attachment also makes seeking and/or entertaining new partners drama free. If you ask someone for their phone number, they may not give it to you. If you share an emotional connection, it might not translate to the physical. Appreciate everything simply for what it is and not for what you expect it to be.
Reactions and feelings of others are not your responsibility
I’m not telling you to go around treating people like shit and not caring, but know what is yours to carry and what is not. As long as you are in your integrity and are existing as your authentic self then the emotional well being or approval of others shouldn’t drive your boat or take up your precious energy. If someone doesn’t approve of your lifestyle, if someone has hurt feelings because you don’t feel the same way about them, if someone feels awkward in your presence or because of your actions, etc. – have compassion, but know when to stop and recognize that it’s their shit, not yours.
Everything is an opportunity for reflection
If you find feelings of jealousy or insecurity popping up, if you don’t like the man/woman your partner is suddenly interested in, if you find yourself needing lots of rules and guidelines, or are feeling anything negative or uncomfortable – look at it. Really look at it. Most of the time we are in reaction mode and are just dealing with the surface issue (it’s not really about the dishes in the sink or the face that she was late again). If you dig deep and take it all the way – you’ll be amazed at what you find and what you can let go of. This can be exhausting though and you must be willing to do it. That’s one of the great things about being honest with yourself – you’re always bumping up against old belief systems, finding things that need healthy reprogramming, and making room for the new.
Give toxic people the boot
When treading through socially awkward territory like polyamory, you are sure to push the buttons of mainstream friends and family, and even of people that you thought you knew. They may feel threatened by the freedom of your relationship, and by your new found happiness in opening up your life to more love. Perhaps they wish they could do it themselves and are experiencing jealousy, perhaps they are in an unsatisfactory relationship and can’t find a way out, and perhaps they are simply living in fear of change. Everyone has their own path and discovers life in their own time frame. Surround yourself with non-judgmental, open-minded friends so that you can all be inspired by your dreams and celebrate your differences. Don’t waste too much time on people who are unwilling to support your happiness and curiosity.
