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Should You Forgive Infidelity?

Jennifer McDougall
2 min readMar 2, 2023

When a partner cheats, it can be heartbreaking and devastating. In the face of such an emotional betrayal, many people may feel unprepared to forgive the wrongdoer. However, forgiveness is not just about letting someone off the hook for what they have done; it is about understanding the underlying issues and helping both parties move forward more healthily. Here we discuss when forgiving infidelity in a relationship might be beneficial and how to do so.

Should You Forgive Infidelity?
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Understanding Why Cheating Happened

Before you can decide whether or not to forgive your partner for their infidelity, it’s essential to try to understand why the cheating happened in the first place. This does not mean excusing or justifying their behavior; it involves looking at the broader context and asking questions such as, “What were some of the underlying issues that led up to this?” or “What needs were being unmet in this relationship?” Answering these questions can help you understand why infidelity occurs and how best to move forward.

Evaluating Your Relationship

When considering whether or not to forgive your partner for cheating, taking stock of your relationship overall is essential. For example, do you still love them? Are there still things that you appreciate about them? Do you want to continue with this…

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Jennifer McDougall
Jennifer McDougall

Written by Jennifer McDougall

Host of Life Refined podcast 🎙️ Personal Growth | Self-Improvement | Wellness 💡 Helping you level up your mindset & life. https://linktr.ee/jenmcdougall

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