Emotional adultery, you thinking, “Wow! That sounds hectic,” and you’re right!
When one partner behaves in a way that creates emotional intimacy with someone besides the other partner; this is emotional adultery or emotional cheating. It means a “friendship” in the office or country club has gone too far.
What are the signs that a person is emotionally cheating on their spouse?
You talk about the work-related events, your interests, share a joke or a cigarette, which is understandable but pretty soon you’re discussing the passions of your heart and confiding in each other about the problems in your marriages. You have crossed some serious boundaries.
What began as an innocent friendship with someone of the opposite sex has quickly become an emotional affair. Many physical affairs mushroomed from similar scenarios.
Of course, not everyone who has a friend from the opposite sex stumbles into an affair. But it can be easier than you think to cross the line in those kinds of friendships.
That’s why you need appropriate boundaries with opposite-sex friends, and you need to guard your heart – and the heart of your marriage.
The following are three things you can count on:
1. Your marriage and children are worth guarding with your life.
2. You are Living in a culture that’s hostile to fidelity in marriage; your heart will come under attack.
3.You cannot survive these attacks on your own.
You and your spouse must stand together against the common foe. You must guard your heart and guard each others’ hearts. You need hold company only with those who share your desire for a divorce-proof marriage.
So how can one tell if you are in danger of an emotional affair? An awareness of the signs of emotional cheating is a major step in stopping it.
Below Are Four Ways You Can Know:
Intimate Communication
Sharing personal, intimate details about your marriage constitutes emotional cheating. For instance, sharing details around an argument you had or saying things like “he does not understand me the way you do” is crossing the line. If your desire is to share exciting news or talk about an upsetting situation with your “friend” rather than your partner, you are heading into dangerous territory.
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
(Proverbs 5:18)
Obsessive Thoughts
Constantly thinking about your “friend” is another clear warning sign that you may be having an emotional affair. For example, if you daydream about the next time you will see them, wonder what they are doing and replay your last conversation over and over in your mind is a clear indication your friendship has crossed the line into emotional infidelity.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
(Proverbs 4:23.)
Sexual Thoughts
If you fantasize about a romantic or sexual relationship with a specific person other than your partner – this is emotional infidelity. Even if you keep such fantasies in the privacy of your mind, you may never even commit the physical act… it is still emotional infidelity!
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(Matthew 5:28.)
Operating Secretively
Another sign of emotional cheating is keeping the other person’s friendship completely secret from your spouse.
Avoid spending time alone. In a work situation such as a business trip–something that can’t be avoided, let them know your spouse is aware of your meetings and activities during your time together.
Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
(Hebrews 13:14.)
Remember you can say no to the threats to your marriage by guarding your heart and standing strong for your marriage and children.
