How do I know when it's really time to leave a relationship?

Mirabai knew something the moment she saw Krishna—a recognition so clear it reorganized her entire life. But leaving isn't usually that sudden. It's more like noticing a pattern: Do you feel smaller here? Are you negotiating your own sense of truth? The examined heart—which is what Mirabai kept insisting on—doesn't need permission to leave. It needs honesty. Ask yourself: Am I staying out of love, or out of fear, obligation, or what I've already invested? There's a difference between grief and regret. Grief means you're mourning something real. Regret means you're punishing yourself for having needs. If you're constantly explaining yourself, shrinking your joy, or waiting for the other person to change so you can finally be okay—those are signals worth listening to. You don't need certainty. You need clarity about what you actually want, and permission to want it. Sometimes that takes a therapist, a trusted friend, or just time sitting with the question. The point isn't rushing toward an answer. It's becoming willing to hear what you already know.