Posted: Jan 20, 2008, 12:07 PM CST
Jealousy needs to get it’s due time and credit, the same as any other emotion. It’s how it’s handled really that’s more important.
I think it’s important that people find a good match in the first place. If I am someone who wants to spend 23 hours a day with my partner, it would be a bit senseless for me to engage in a relationship with someone who wants to work long hours, socialize with friends everyday, and have a “guys night out” twice a week. And vice-versa. Finding that compatibility in the first place cuts down on a lot of the jealousy issues.
Some partners have a low trust threshold from being hurt in the past. If we really love our partner, sometimes we have to submit to a bit of possessiveness for a while until they understand, through time and experience, that we aren’t leaving them for someone else.
It’s not a task we should be taking on with every single person we date, but once we’ve found “the one”, if we really love them and want it to work, we’re usually willing to invest more.