When it’s too heavy to carry, let it go.

In the world of CONTRACTS, pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept) is a sacred rule. It’s the backbone of trust, the doctrine that says: When you give your word, you stand by it. Contracts hold power because of this principle. Whether in law or love, it’s the foundation of mutual commitment.

But even in law, there is space for mercy. Article 1267 of the Civil Code states that:

“When the service has become so difficult as to be manifestly beyond the contemplation of the parties, the obligor may be released therefrom, in whole or in part.”

Originally crafted for contracts of service or obligation, this provision reflects an ancient and universal truth: There comes a point where staying is no longer fair, neither to yourself, nor to the other party.

Love Is a Contract, Too:

Relationships, in many ways, are contracts; some written, most unspoken. They come with expectations, mutual responsibilities, and a shared vision for the future. And under this rule of pacta sunt servanda, we stay. We work. We keep trying. Because that’s what love is supposed to mean; faithfulness to the promise. 

But what happens when that balance collapses?What happens when what used to be light and effortless becomes excruciating? When your emotional labor becomes “so difficult as to be manifestly beyond the contemplation of the parties”? You each committed to becoming better, not perfect, but progressing. But over time, you find yourself doing all the lifting. You’re growing, adjusting, compromising…

while the other stays stuck. Or worse, becomes the very reason you’re shrinking.

When the Contract Breaks Your Spirit:

At some point, the emotional toll exceeds what you ever anticipated. You didn’t sign up to suffer in silence. You didn’t agree to lose yourself. You didn’t enter this bond expecting it to undo you. And in that moment, Article 1267 whispers gently but firmly:

“If this has become more than you can carry—beyond what was contemplated—you may be released.”

Because even the law, strict as it may be, recognizes that mercy must coexist with justice. Even the doctrine of pacta sunt servanda, as noble as it is, has limits. It binds only within the bounds of what was reasonably expected. When reality exceeds those bounds, the law does not demand your destruction in the name of duty.

You Are Free to Go:

If the one you’re with can’t or won’t change for the better, you are not obligated to remain bound to a promise that no longer reflects reality. You are not obliged to keep carrying the weight alone. You are not obligated to stay. You are free to go. And sometimes, that’s not giving up. It’s choosing peace over pain. It’s honoring yourself the way you once hoped they would.

Letting go here, is not breaking the contract. It’s fulfilling it honestly, once the shared vision has died. The obligation ends not because of failure, but because the spirit of the agreement no longer exists.

Let pacta sunt servanda remind you of the beauty of commitment.

Let Article 1267 remind you: Even in law, mercy has a place. And in love, so does letting go. 

And in the tension between these 2 doctrines, know that Sometimes, staying is not fidelity. Leaving is.

With love and clarity,

Ana 💋