There are many reasons why a relationship can fail; infidelity, lies, disrespect, emotional withdrawal and more. But, is having differing political views a reason to end your relationship or marriage and start using online dating services for adults, for example Flirt.com in order to find your political match?
For Gayle McCormick and her husband, yes, it is. The couple decided to end their 22-year marriage when her husband mentioned he was thinking about voting for Trump in the 2016 election. Gayle’s reason for wanting the split? She didn’t want to have to explain her political views everyday, all day for the rest of their lives.
Although this is just one example of how opposite political views can ruin a relationship, even a relationship that spanned decades, is this the norm? Or, is it possible to have a happy and healthy relationship even though you don’t support the same side?
The answer is yes – and here’s how.
Making Your Relationship Work Despite Opposing Political Views
1. Try not to confuse the party’s candidate’s views with your partner’s views. Just because your partner supports one party over another, that doesn’t necessarily mean they stand behind everything the candidate says. In fact, they may be very much against some of the stances the candidate has. It’s important that you don’t take your frustration over the candidate on your partner. This will only lead to defensive resentment that’ll sour the relationship.
2. Keep an open mind and be patient. It’s easy to feel like you have to try and change your partner’s views if they disagree with you, but in doing so, you’re only putting a rift between you two – especially if it’s a topic either of you are passionate about. Instead of trying to win a fight and change their mind, just listen to them and take things in stride. If you do get into a debate, keep things civil and respectful.
3. Remember winning a debate isn’t important. Unlike the primaries, winning a political debate with your partner isn’t going to end climate change or improve racial tension. When both of you realize this and don’t make winning important, you’ll be able to grow as a couple, regardless of political views.
4. Keep politics out of the bedroom! We can’t stress this enough. If you’re in a heated debate and it’s nearing bedtime, do not continue the debate as you get ready to turn in for the night. The bedroom should be a place where you can relax and spend some quality one-on-one time together. By bringing politics in the bedroom, even if you are making an off hand comment about what one candidate said, you’re ending the day on a negative note, which is a whole other can of worms.
5. Look for common views instead of focusing on the differences. More often than not when we have different political views with anyone, we tend to get fixated on those differences. Yes, it’s true that there may be very little that you agree on, but you still have to try to find some common ground – even if it’s a mutual disliking of other candidates.
6. Don’t change your views just to keep the peace. It’s understandable that you might want to do whatever you can in order to keep the peace, however that isn’t doing either one of you any good. You’ll end up resenting your partner and you might even feel disappointed in yourself for doing it. This should go without saying, but you shouldn’t expect your partner to change their views just for you, either. Remember, it’s okay to have different opinions on things.
Politics Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Relationship
Politics is often a topic that can either bring people together or put a huge rift between them. People often feel like they have to defend their views and refuse to budge. That’s fine and well – we’re entitled to our own beliefs, however when things get tense in the relationship, it’s important to remember that politics is not important enough to ruin your relationship.
We understand that it may be difficult to listen to opinions that you disagree with, but there’s always room for compromise… Or at the very least agree to disagree and keep things civil and respectful.
