4 ways a relationship can survive if your partner has cheated on you

As much as a cheating partner can hurt, relationship recovery is quite possible. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Adriana Velasque

Jay-Z and Beyonce are proof that a relationship can survive infidelity. Not all of them though. It hurts if you are rewarded with a fickle heart and the wound is not easy to handle. But, if you're ready to accept it as a mistake and still want to be with the same person, then worry not. It's not something that cannot happen. It's a lot of hard work and a lot of forgiving and forgetting--but maybe all the love you share can handle this too.

Every relationship that endured cheating have these four factors in common. We hope these help you out too. But the word is courage, my friend!

An Affair Does not Mean The Whole Relationship was Rotten

A relationship gone wrong does not mean the whole relationship was bad. This is the first realisation you need. Cheating is a pretty major bump, but try to find out why it happened. This will be the toughest thing you'll do--finding it in yourself to have a conversation with your significant other, when you just can't see the point. This will also be the time when you need to be absolutely honest. Be calm, though. It will be hard, but try.

Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Joshua Ness

Never, Ever Reframe the Relationship Dynamic to Perpetrator and Victim

It will take time to go back to where you were. Maybe it'll never be what it was before, but something even more beautiful. No matter what you do, never let there be a power-play in your relationship. It will ruin things for the longest time to come. Do what you need to heal, but perpetuating yourself as a victim will never let the pain subside. This means, the chemistry and love could be lost. Never let there be a moment when you say, "You did this to me, now you fix it."The mistake has been made--it'll take two to get this tango back on stage again.

Your Partner has to Talk About  Infidelity

...and this could be way beyond both your comfort levels. Your partner has to listen to the pain that you were put through. They need to keep listening till the trauma subsides. They have to be the kind, who is able and willing to share the remorse, guilt, hurt, and empathy. Also, make sure you do not do this in public. It's too volatile a situation to not end up in a fight. The best way to talk would be in front of a therapist who can listen and guide you through the whole conversation/discussion.

Photo: Shutterstock/IndiaPicture

The Betrayer Needs to be Completely Transparent for a Period of Time

Oh, this means giving up on all personal space for a good period of time. This means no secret meetings, no secret passwords, no uninformed disappearances, texts, or even letters. There can be no deletion--which can again lead to a lack of trust. Trust can only be rebuilt over a period of time and the partner needs to realize this.

Relationships, attraction, love--they're not for the fainthearted. It's a difficult road to tread and it's not everybody's cup of tea. But then "The course of true love never did run smooth," said Shakespeare and we dare say he was right. A little too right, actually.

Also Read: In today's round-up of bizarre research, men apparently cheat on women at around 10 pm