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3 Ways To Handle A Rival Partner In A Relationship
3 Ways To Handle A Rival Partner In A Relationship
While we long to bask in the satisfying love and want of a partner, most people unknowingly end up in a crappy relationship with someone who claims to be their lover, but in fact, turns out to be their rival.
This brings a whirlwind of confusion and emotions because you wonder why the relationship has been made a competition rather than a sound support system.
When you find yourself in this situation, laughter is no longer ordinary, side talks are no longer ordinary, and a lot of things done and said are easily misinterpreted. From there on, it goes down the heel. Everything is done in competition.
Navigating the Challenges of a Rival Partner in a Relationship
Relationships can be complex and shocking for some people. One of the most significant challenges that can arise is dealing with a rival partner; what is even worse than that is not knowing that your partner is in an unhealthy competition with you.
You might be completely honest and open like a book, and that won’t guarantee you an honest partner. While some people may get slightly confused about who a rival partner may be, let me explain.
Who is a rival partner
A rival partner is not only your romantic partner but also your competitor, rival, or adversary in some aspect of your life. It is incredibly discomforting to find out that your partner is a rival partner, but some people go through a relationship completely without realising that their partner is their rival or that they are jealous of them and their achievements.
This is so because you might be taking career advice or big move advice from your rival partner, where they tell you to turn down life-changing career opportunities, but they go behind you to seek for that opportunity.
This can create a unique set of heartbreak because that can be difficult to navigate. You think back to all the times you took their advice, only to realise that they were misleading you, and you trusted them wholeheartedly. However, this brings about a unique set of challenges that can leave a person scared and afraid of being in another relationship.
The blog post, however, aims to provide some practical tips on how to handle this complex turn of events because having a rival partner who is also a jealous personality will most definitely affect loyalty and trust and leave your relationship shaky.
This is not only prominent in the relationship of friends; this happens in romantic relationships between opposite sexes, especially when they are in the same career industry. Some people have a healthy control of it, while others can let it turn into full-blown jealousy.
The Impact Of Dating A Rival Partner
The relationship will be ruled by conflict and tension, which naturally leads to its demise. Because mixing the competitive part fo the relationship, over rules the romantic aspect.
When a person in the relationship feels like they are not measuring up to the other, they kick and scream and plan to ruin whatever the other person has going for them. Jealousy ends the intimacy because you begin to see your partner in a different light, and it is never in a good way.
Handling A Rival Partner
There is no doubt that handling a rival partner is like living in a war-torn zone because every move you make could be explosive, especially when one person suffers from an inferiority complex.
Most people see nothing but the end of a relationship, the moment they realise that their partner is a rival and not a lover. There are some tips to try first before inevitably ending the relationship:
- Open and Honest Communication: Whatever you feel is tugging at your soul, anything you may have noticed but can categorically confirm, can be talked about. Be it a look, a reaction, or a remark, don’t always assume; just have a conversation, and even if your questions were not answered, you would know where you stand.
- Define the Boundaries in the Relation: There is something known as healthy competition, and it doesn’t, in no way, look like a bad competition. So when you see the signs as clear as day, do the needful and set boundaries through conversations. Define what is and is not acceptable in terms of completion. But bear in mind that communication might not change the situation. Try to diversify interest and explain that as a couple, a win is a win for everyone rather than one person. When it gets to this stage, everyone will have to be mindful of their jokes, utterances, and actions. It isn’t so funny when it is only one person laughing at the joke that hurts the other.
- Identify and focus on shared Interests: While you build your care, make time out for the other person and their interest. Celebrate and encourage achievements, no matter how small they are. Competition is expected in a relationship, but so is its control. Focus on the things you both like to do, and show a good amount of interest in what doesn’t interest you but interests your partner, like hustle, hobbies and career.
- Seek support and guidance or leave: Dealing with rivalry partners is no doubt challenging, but it may help if you seek support and guidance from trusted friends, family, or a therapist. Having a neutral third party to talk through your feelings and concerns can be incredibly helpful, but when all is said and done, and there is no change, then please leave.
Conclusion
Having a rivalry partner in a relationship can be complex, but it’s not impossible to navigate. By communicating openly and honestly, setting clear boundaries, finding ways to manage conflict, focusing on shared interests and values, and seeking support and guidance, you can build a strong and healthy relationship despite the competitive dynamic.
Remember, every relationship is unique, and what works for one couple may not work for another. Be patient, flexible, and willing to adapt, and you can find a way to make your relationship with a rival partner work.
But when all options are exhausted, then please, by all means, take a bow and leave. because when there is jealousy, there would be attacks, physical or otherwise, and you may not live to tell the story.
