How do I know if I'm staying in a relationship out of love or obligation?

Mirabai knew the difference. She loved Krishna so fiercely that staying in a marriage that didn't hold that love became impossible—not cruel, just honest. The question isn't whether you feel obligated; most of us do. The question is whether obligation has replaced the living thing underneath it. Love asks something of us. It asks presence, attention, willingness to be changed. Obligation whispers: you should stay because of what others will think, because you've invested years, because leaving is harder than remaining numb. Love sometimes requires staying through difficulty. Obligation requires you to stop examining your own heart. Notice what happens when you imagine leaving. Is it relief mixed with grief? That's honest love in real trouble—worth fighting for, worth the hard conversations. Is it pure relief, or panic about logistics? That's your answer. Mirabai's examined heart led her to freedom, not selfishness. She asked: what does my deepest self need? Not: what do others expect? Start there. Journal about it. Talk to someone who won't judge your answer. The fairness you're seeking begins with truth-telling to yourself first.