What Does Loyalty In Relationships Look Like?

In relationships, the existence of loyalty is absolutely paramount. When someone is loyal to their partner, it contributes to the relationship’s success and speaks to their character as an individual. In this day and age, temptation is everywhere, and quite frankly, it’s easy for people to be disloyal if they so choose. In any relationship, it’s important for both parties to be on the same page about loyalty, what loyalty means, and why loyalty is so critical in relationships.

Believe it or not, not everyone has a clear picture of what loyalty looks like in relationships. This can be especially problematic because it leaves the door open to various problems. In any relationship, loyalty should be one of the most basic expectations; loyalty greatly contributes to trusting their significant other and truly building a healthy relationship.

A Quick Word On Loyalty In Relationships

When most people think of loyalty in relationships, not cheating or romantically straying outside of the relationship generally comes to mind. Of course, it goes without saying that not cheating is a major part of loyalty in a relationship, but it’s not the only part. Being loyal in a relationship is so much more than not sleeping with someone who is not your significant other. More often than not, issues arise when someone in a relationship feels that loyalty is absent, even if their partner has not physically cheated on them.

In both the short-term and the long-term, you must know what loyalty in a relationship looks like. This will help you determine what to accept and what not to accept; it’ll also give you an idea of being a loyal significant other to your partner. Understanding what loyalty looks like in relationships does not mean that you’ll never have any troubles with your significant other; however, when both parties are consistently loyal to one another, this can greatly reduce various issues in the relationship.

Four Examples Of What Loyalty Looks Like In Relationships

In relationships, loyalty is all about honesty, trust, and commitment. It means sticking with your partner through good times and bad times, even when this isn’t easy. Of course, there are certain caveats here; loyalty doesn’t mean that you should accept abuse or mistreatment. As a matter of fact, any person who subjects their partner to abuse or mistreatment of any nature is inherently disloyal. Loyalty is a two-way street, and both parties in a relationship need to maintain a clear picture of how to be loyal.

If you are facing or witnessing abuse of any kind, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or Text "START" to 88788. You can also use the online chat.

Not Hiding from Your Significant Other

Being open with your significant other and not hiding parts of who you are are immense parts of loyalty in relationships. Healthy relationships and bonds are fostered when both parties truly know one another as individuals.

It’s important to note that while truly opening up to your significant other is a part of loyalty in relationships, it also takes time. Strong relationships don’t form overnight, but as you get to know your partner and truly grow with them, opening up to them should come naturally.

Being Patient During Tough Times

All relationships go through ups and downs. Even the best and strongest relationships have been through rough periods, and that’s OK. Ironically, some of the greatest relationships are so great because of what both parties overcome as partners. In relationships, being patient with your significant other is a critical hallmark of loyalty.

Nobody is perfect, and everyone has their good days and bad days. Realizing this and being a necessary support system when your partner needs it is an act of loyalty. Sometimes, being patient during tough times means listening to your partner when they’re going through something or simply letting them know that you’re there for them. Being patient during tough times always goes both ways and is something you should expect from anyone you’re dating.

Defending Your Significant Other

At some point in your relationship, there will come the point where your significant other runs into challenges or conflicts with other people. Of course, if you truly believe that your partner is wrong, you should let them know; however, in cases where you are supportive of your partner and their position, articulating this support is a critical part of loyalty.

As you can imagine, the extent and manner of defending your significant other will vary based upon the specific situation at hand. However, a good rule of thumb is to make sure your partner knows that you empathize with their situation and what they’re going through. This critically ties into emotional loyalty; sometimes, defending your significant other means letting them know that you understand their point of view and have their back.

Not Badmouthing Your Significant Other

All significant others get into disagreements and arguments at one point or another. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but how you go about handling disagreements with your partner is deeply important. Unfortunately, some people tend to badmouth their partners to other people when they have arguments. This is an extremely ill-advised idea, and it’s certainly not a display of loyalty in relationships.

If you have an issue with your significant other, this is something that the two of you should work out amongst yourselves. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have friends or confide in your friends about certain aspects of your relationship; however, when it comes to critical details about your significant other or specific issues or complaints, that’s most definitely something to be worked out within the relationship. If you truly feel as though you have no other option but to badmouth your significant other, you might do well to reconsider whether or not you’re in the right relationship.

Why You Deserve Loyalty In Your Relationship

Loyalty in relationships is something that you should hold out for, even if that means that certain unions must come to an end. When you have a loyal partner, this means that you are respected and valued in the relationship.

In the long term, being with someone who truly cares for you enough to be loyal will contribute to a higher-quality relationship. If you’re in a relationship where loyalty is absent, letting go still may not always be the easiest thing in the world, particularly if you have an extensive history with this person. Nevertheless, as difficult as a breakup, maybe, sometimes, it is for the best and will lead to a better relationship with someone else later on down the line.

Whenever loyalty is missing in your relationship, this is inherently problematic and in need of fixing. Whether or not your relationship can be fixed depends upon a series of factors; one of those factors includes the willingness of your significant other. If both you and your partner are willing to take steps to improve your relationship, then there is hope. Although, if only one of you is willing to take steps to build a loyal relationship, things will not work out. Remember, mutual effort is paramount to have any healthy relationship.

Additional Resources For Help

No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your life is currently like, each individual has their own struggles and challenges. Sometimes, those challenges deal with relationships; in other cases, struggles can pertain to entirely different matters. Regardless of the specifics, it’s very important to know that you are not alone. There are resources for help in the world, which you deserve to be aware of.

There’s never any shame in asking for help, no matter what your situation may be. If you would like to have someone to confide in and provide credible guidance which can be of value to you, signing up for online therapy with ReGain will change your life.

Working with an online therapist comes with a series of benefits. First and foremost, you no longer have to shoulder the burden of dealing with problems or challenges by yourself. This, in and of itself, has made a significant difference in so many lives; loneliness and isolation can easily make bad problems worse. Additional upsides of online therapy include getting feedback on your situation and gradually striving towards solutions.

Each situation is unique, and there is no set time frame for how long online therapy will take before the desired outcomes are achieved. Here at ReGain, the licensed mental health professional you’re matched with will work with you for as long as you need and on a schedule that works best for you. The beauty of online therapy is that you can have sessions from anywhere and are not limited to one specific location to get help.

No matter what you may be facing in your life, there is always a path forward; ReGain strives to be there by your side as you venture on your path to a brighter future.

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“With Cassandra’s help, we’ve been able to bring our relationship to a new, healthier, and much happier level, working through painful situations, growing as individuals and as a couple, and with tools to stay on this path. She’s very responsive, and it has been great to have her facilitate our messaging through the app all week. I highly recommend Cassandra. She’s skilled, supportive, and down-to-earth. We feel totally comfortable with her.”