Sometimes love does not end with a blow – it fades in silence.There comes a point in many relationships when love stops feeling like love and begins to feel like endurance. You tell yourself that things are getting better, that this is just a rough note, which would mean giving up. But the truth is that it does not go away that breaks most – it is the pain to stay far past the point of peace.We grow up and hear that love means holding on whatever. We are told that the commitment is measured by how much we can tolerate. Still, behind closed doors, many admit that they are simply tired – stick to relationships that no longer feel care.The lowered costOne reason why people are struggling to release is something that psychologists call the dropped cost incorrectly. When you have poured years, energy and emotions in a relationship, the idea of leaving like throwing away all this feels. “You convince yourself that since you have come so far, you might as well continue,” says life and relationship coach Dr. Nidhika Bahl. “But love is not a project that rewards the effort. When a relationship stops growing, only debt or habit remains just deepening the loss.“What hurts the most, she adds, is not necessarily the end, but to realize how much of yourself you gave up trying to keep something alive that had already passed.When self -value begins to slip awayStaying too long in the wrong relationship can quietly chip away who you are. Many people in emotionally unbalanced relationships are paid enough attention to stay, but never enough to feel fulfilled. “You start to doubt your assessment, your value, even your reality,” Bahl says. “You tip around the conflict, suppress your needs and make you less to keep peace. But real love never requires you to shrink.“The slow erosion of self -respect often hurts more deeply than the heart itself, as it disconnects you from your own inner strength.The silent weight of the shameAnd then there is shame. You may have defended your partner, motivated their behavior or dismissed your own discomfort. You may even have distanced you from friends and family who saw the red flags. When things finally fall apart, you can turn to them – and yourself – feel unbearable.“You feel judged, embarrassed and completely alone,” Bahl says. “But relationships don’t fail; they change form. Sometimes growth means recognizing that the version of love that once made sensible no longer fits who you become.”Choosing yourself is not selfishLeaving a relationship that no longer adapts to you is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign of awakening. That’s the moment when you stop trying to fix something that keeps breaking you. “Healing begins when you choose honesty over denial and self -respect over fear,” Bahl says. “Staying too long does not save love. It just postpon the life and love you really deserve.”By: Dr. Nidhika Bahl, Life & Relationship Coach, Founder – Rise by Nidhika
