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The 1 good thing cheaters do for us

Lipstick on man's shirt

Nothing good could come of a relationship marred by infidelity, right? The heartache, the shock, the feeling of one's trust being violated. 

In the short-term, being cheated on can turn one's world upside down. But eventually, there may be a light awaiting the cheated at the end of the tunnel. 

If you really think about it, cheaters end up doing us a huge favor. 

In their selfishness and disloyalty, they end up showing us that we deserve better. 

If you're so unfortunate as to be a victim of such acts of betrayal, you can only hope the cheater is considerate enough to own up to their missteps. 

But we all know full well that, in many cases, the cheater is either caught in the act or leaves behind a trail of hints that ultimately culminates in their undoing.

The more classy thing to do is to discuss their feelings openly with their partner before straying. 

If all talks lead to an impasse or a further escalation of tensions, both parties should take it as a sign there's no hope and move on. Some couples are able to work out their problems (sometimes with the aid of counseling) but, alas, these happier-ever-after stories are few and far between.

Of course, no one wants to be cheated on, but if consequently it leads you to finding someone who genuinely values your commitment, it may turn out a blessing in disguise, despite all of the emotional turmoil in the beginning. 

As I've noted in prior posts, cheating is the most egregious act anyone can perform in a relationship short of murder, abuse, or theft. 

No one should be subjected to the pain that comes with realizing your partner betrayed your trust. 

If anything, it sharpens your ability to decipher to pick up on signs from future partners. 

This doesn't mean you should go into every later relationship distrusting your significant other and bracing for that smoking gun.

But you've been there before, your resolve and  ability to bounce back strengthened. Should someone commit this violation, it'll be further proof not that something is wrong with you, but that you just haven't found the right person yet -- one who values honesty and loyalty as dearly as you.  

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