Compersion: A feeling of joy when a loved one invests in and takes pleasure from another romantic or sexual relationship. (Urban Dictionary)
I wonder how long it will be before it appears in the Oxford English Dictionary? They are quite good at adding new modern words but so far this one seems to have slipped through the net but within the poly and to some extent the kink community it is term that is fairly well-known.
Often people say compersion is the opposite of jealousy but I find that to be an over simplification. I feel like it implies you can feel one or the other when in fact I think it is possible to experience both at the same time. You can feel happy for your partner that they are spending time with their lover and also feel a prickly of jealousy that it is not you going to the cinema or theatre or restaurant with them. Compersion does not cancel out jealousy or vice versa.
Most people I have talked to and many of the pieces I have read about compersion make me believe that it is something that lots of people struggle with and I can understand why. We are so programmed from a young age to believe that there is one person for us and that romantic love is something you only should feel for one person. The same is true of sex too, society definitely teaches us that sex fidelity is desirable and even makes you a morally better person somehow, especially if you are a woman. The idea of sharing a partner either romantically or sexually is one that most people have never considered and so suddenly not only being OK with it but actively happy about it is a bit of stretch.
I was in a monogamous relationship for a very long time (with my 1st husband) it suited him but it never really suited me and I will freely admit that over the 18 odd years we were together I cheated on a number of occasions. I am not proud of that but I also refused to be ashamed of it either. At the time it felt like my only choice and in many ways it is probably some of the reason I stayed as long as I did. Back then neither of us had the communication skills required to negotiate anything different or the knowledge that something different was possible.
Fast forward to now and I am kind of in a poly relationship. I am poly by proxy I guess as Michael has another romantic/sexual partner; Kitten. I am monogamous with Michael though hence the poly by proxy thing. Can I really say I am poly when I don’t have any other partners? I don’t think so but you might think differently. Anyway, the why and wherefores on that subject is another post for another time. This one is about me and compersion.
I find that compersion comes completely naturally to me. I have had many people ask me how I do it and the answer to that is I don’t know, it is just what I feel. It is not something I have had to teach myself to feel or something I have to work on it really is just my natural response to him having someone else. I do wonder if maybe it would be different if I didn’t like her or we didn’t get on. I think that would probably change things hugely for me but as that is not and has never been the case I can’t know for sure. I also think it helps that I am sexually turned on by sharing him sexually with another woman. It really is a massive kink for me. I love watching them fuck but am equally turned on by knowing they are fucking even if I am not there. I do need to know about it though. I think if I felt excluded or he wasn’t open about it with me that would definitely make it much harder for me and I have to wonder if that would inspire me to feel jealous. I definitely think I would be angry and upset.
I don’t know why I am like this. Maybe being an only child meant my jealousy radar was never set off when it came to the people I love or maybe it is because I find it a turn on that somehow switches off the jealousy for me. I wish I could give all those people who are struggling with it, damn I wish I could give Michael a 5 step guide to successful compersion but I can’t because I don’t know how or why it just happens.
Having said all this that does not mean it is always easy to share your partner or that I don’t have moments where it has been challenging. Having Kitten here for over a month earlier this year was brilliant. We had some much fun together and we all really enjoyed it but oddly when she went home I found myself feeling more vulnerable than usual and looking for reassurance. I think in some ways I just needed to be sure that he was still happy with ‘just me’ but also I think because I knew he was sad it made me feel a little unsure of that. Maybe having more highlighted how I was ‘less’.
We talked about it a lot and he was also swift to reassure me and tell me that he loved me and it passed fairly quickly and whilst it wasn’t jealousy I felt it was feelings that were hard at times to sort out in my head. The key for me for really being honest with him and also taking what he said at face value. “I love you” means exactly that. It does not mean ‘I love you because you are here’ or ‘I love you but it is better with her’ It is so easy to let your mind put in those added snippets of what are essentially your brain telling you lies.
It also helps that I really like Kitten very much. I enjoy her company; we can happily spend ages talking and can also happily sit in silence both doing our respective things. She fits into our life whether that is on Skype or in person. I think that her job and the fact that we both work from home also means that I don’t ever feel like I am ‘waiting for my turn’ to be with Michael. I think if he went out to work all day and then only had a brief window with Kitten in the evening that might actually make it much harder as I suspect I would feel like maybe I was waiting for his attention until after he had spent time with her. I think the fact that we all hang out happily together makes it so much easier.
I really don’t know how or why it works this way for me when it comes to jealousy and compersion, the only thing I know for sure is that I am damn glad it does.
We make a good three.
*Credit to Hyacinth Jones for this picture attached to this post.
41 comments
I remember the night that picture was taken. 😀
The first time I felt compersion, I didn’t even know there was a name for it. But I was shocked at how damn happy I felt for JB. And like you, the prickles of jealousy got me at other points, too. I agree that clear communication and taking what you’re told at face value (because the trust is already there) makes a big difference. If I trust him enough to be okay with him having additional partners, I should be able to trust him when he tells me he loves me.
And yes, you do make a good three.
Yes you were. I love that picture. And you are right about the trust. I think it is very easy to let you mind fill in the blanks when in fact there are not any blanks to be filled
Mollyx
First time I’ve come across the term. Very interesting description and I really get why compersion and jealous are not antonyms.
Lovely read on the dynamics.
Thank you and I am glad to have extended your vocabulary
Mollyx
“I do need to know about it though. I think if I felt excluded or he wasn’t open about it with me that would definitely make it much harder for me and I have to wonder if that would inspire me to feel jealous. I definitely think I would be angry and upset” All of this is exactly me!
“I love you” means exactly that. It does not mean ‘I love you because you are here’ or ‘I love you but it is better with her’ It is so easy to let your mind put in those added snippets of what are essentially your brain telling you lies.” This is something that I am currently struggling with, but Mr. Texas and I have an end date, so it’s even harder to believe the words right now.
I’m so happy you all can hang out and enjoy each other’s company, even for long periods of time. Very envious of this arrangement, hope to have it in my own life one day.
Thank you. I think an end date would be a tough thing. For me I think if there was such a thing then I would be like, what is the actual point now?
Mollyx
This is a fascinating post, and it’s wonderful to read how the three of you fit together so well.
I have never known there was a word for it, so I have learned something new today. I too felt compersion, back when we still had quite some dates and once Master T was sucked by another woman. It was one of the most beautiful things to see. And, I think Master T has had his share of compersion too watching when I am fucked by someone else. There is no jealousy in our relationship, but I can see it happening if either one of us do something without the other being there.
Great post!
Rebel xox
I don’t mind if he does stuff without me being there as long as I know about it. Him and Cara definitely had sex while I was out. It was actually a turn on
Molly
I love the post but hate the word! It’s such an ugly fabricated word, from a world where grammar is forgotten. Can someone not come up with a nicer word, one where the lips don’t feel like they are contorting themselves unnaturally?
Oh I rather like it, it has a purr sound in the middle which seems appropriate to me
Mollyx
[…] doesn’t recognise ‘compersion’ as a word, but I’d like to link to these wonderful recent blog post by Molly’s Daily Kiss where she talks about her experiences of compersion and gives a […]
Aww I didn’t realize you were feeling how you were after I left. I was so devastated leaving that I didn’t even consider you’d have a hard time. It’s always amazing to me how well things work and that you handle it with such confidence. You’re a great sharer and I’m glad you’re my friend in all of it. ?
Him being sad was a weird thing to deal with and it did make me feel a bit vulnerable but it was short lived
Mollyx
[…] doesn’t recognise ‘compersion’ as a word, but I’d like to link to these wonderful recent blog post by Molly’s Daily Kiss where she talks about her experiences of compersion and gives a […]
Hello Molly, I like your write ups and I was wondering if I could host your content on my tube site? I would link back to your blog of course ?
No thank you. Please do not repost my content elsewhere. It is fine to link to it though
Mollyx
I find the subject of this fascinating and, as you know, don’t really know where I would be with any of it. I didn’t know this word but wonder if it is something that you are just either capable of or not. Seeing it as being just another feeling which sits alongside the others (such as some flickers of jealousy at times) makes sense and allows some clarity though. Thank you for writing this and for being so open about your relationship as I think it is helpful to others in making sense of things.
I don’t know how I missed this – I included you guys in my relationship post and had not even read this – quite funny really as I mention honesty in my post – that is so important – if someone tells you everything you don’t feel excluded because you have been included by being informed. x
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] doesn’t recognise ‘compersion’ as a word, but I’d like to link to these wonderful recent blog post by Molly’s Daily Kiss where she talks about her experiences of compersion and gives a […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] doesn’t recognise ‘compersion’ as a word, but I’d like to link to these wonderful recent blog post by Molly’s Daily Kiss where she talks about her experiences of compersion and gives a […]
[…] Feeling compersion by Molly’s Daily Kiss […]
[…] Molly’s Daily Kiss – Feeling Compersion […]
When we first embarked on a path to an open marriage, i wondered if I could set aside jealousy and insecurity. I had always struggled with it because my ex was such a tomcat and I felt so demoralized when I finally faced it. But, like you, I found that for the most part, his relationship with our friend was a turn-on for me. Knowing he was fucking her, hearing him fuck her, or having one of them describe their time together made me so wet and hot for him. I love seeing him kiss her or hold her hand when we are all together. The point about believing him is the absolute truth. The level of trust for this kind of arrangement must be high and you must always be willing to disclose insecurity so it doesn’t fester. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It gives me thoughts for a post of my own.
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]
[…] Feeling Compersion by Molly Moore […]
[…] Feeling Compersion […]