There is an unspoken rule that mentorship is a lifelong bond, a relationship where the mentor guides and the mentee follows. One thing that is certain in life though, is change. Growth brings change - shifts in direction, unexpected turns and moments that challenge what we once thought we needed. As we move forward, the guidance that once felt essential may no longer fit where we are headed. That does not mean it was wrong or that we no longer value it. It simply means we have reached a point where new challenges require new perspectives.

Yet, there can be guilt attached to this. There is a sense of loyalty that makes moving forward feel like an act of abandonment. But is it? Is it wrong to step beyond the guidance that once shaped you? Or is it a natural part of growth? It is natural to outgrow certain things as we evolve - ideas, routines, even relationships. Mentorship is no different. The people who once helped shape our path might not be the ones who walk with us forever. That does not take away from their impact or the lessons they have shared. If anything, it proves how valuable their guidance was. They helped us reach a place where we are now ready to think for ourselves, make decisions with confidence and seek new insights to continue growing.

At some point, staying in the same dynamic out of obligation can become limiting. You begin to filter your growth through the lens of what your mentor would do, rather than what you need to do. Letting go of a mentorship dynamic that no longer serves us is not a rejection of the past. It is allowing ourselves the space to expand beyond where we started. And sometimes, that means stepping away. The influence of a good mentor never truly fades. It stays with us and becomes part of the way we navigate what comes next.