Can You Affair Proof Your Relationship?

There are any number of reasons why a relationship falls apart, but one of the most painful, and most common, is infidelity. An estimated 30 - 60% of married folks in the United States will engage in some form of infidelity, whether its emotional or physical, over the course of their relationship. Throw that factor in  with the divorce odds stacked against you, in combination with staggering infidelity statistics, it begs the question, how on earth can a relationship survive? Is it possible to affair-proof your relationship? Some of the top experts are saying though we can't control the actions of our partners, we can certainly be more plugged into our relationships and help inoculate ourselves against the pain of being cheated on if we are putting in as much effort into the relationship as humanly possible. So how can you avoid the pain of infidelity?

1) Remember the "Golden Rule"! An individual who has nothing to hide, is not in the business of hiding something! If you start noticing a sudden shift in your partner's pattern of behaviour, it's important to get to understand the motivation behind the change. This is where you have to become a bit of an FBI agent, in that you have to learn the art of what I like to call, non-invasive surveillance. An example of this might be hanging out in the bathroom while your partner gets ready. If they're hitting the gym all of a sudden, offer to work out with them. It's subtle, but it gives you a way to observe them and gauge

2) Face problems head on, don't face away! When trouble hits in a relationship, often, our first instinct is to shy away. Here's a little newsflash, that NEVER WORKS! Issues in a relationship don't just go away, they need to be worked out! If you are getting that feeling in your gut that something isn't quite right, it probably isn't. It's time to open up some dialogue, and time to air your grievances.

3) Don't accuse, discuss! Accusing your partner of cheating can have devastating effects on an otherwise, solid relationship. If you're wrong, you run the risk of your partner ever wanting to share anything with you again. Permanently damaging your relationship because of jealousy isn't worth it. So you better be sure! Ask questions, but be tactful. Ask your partner if they're happy? If they feel like something is missing? What do they need from you?

4) Work on your relationship every single day. A major mistake that most couples make is only working on things when they're really, really bad. What about when things are good? Or what about when things are mediocre? Of the course of a relationship, you are going to face a number of challenges. Some you'll be prepared for, and other's might blind side you. If you are each spending every day to make the other loved, happy, supported and wanted, it's a formula for success, with little o no room for thoughts of infidelity to creep in.

5) Don't be afraid to jump out of your comfort zones! Look, life is going to hit the doldrums every now and then, that's just part of existence. One of the main excuses partners will use to justify cheating on their partner is because they're bored. We can't always be exciting, but we can certainly do our best to keep life interesting by trying new things together. Take some art classes even if neither of you are particularly artsy! Make an effort to get outta dodge every now and then. Leave your problems, rekindle the romance, and make some new memories!