Why do I feel like I'm always the one reaching out?

Feeling like you're always the one initiating contact, making plans, or maintaining Interpersonal relationship is exhausting and can leave you wondering whether people actually want you in their lives or if they're just being polite when you reach out. This pattern might reflect different relationship health/improving-communication" class="internal-link">healthy communication" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Communication styles - some people are natural initiators while others are more responsive, and some people show care through actions rather than words or frequent contact. However, if you consistently feel like you're doing all the emotional labor in Interpersonal relationship, it might indicate genuinely unbalanced dynamics where others are taking your efforts for granted. Consider the overall pattern of your Interpersonal relationship rather than individual instances - do people respond positively when you reach out? Do they make time for you when you suggest getting together? Do they show care and interest in other ways even if they don't initiate contact? Some people are terrible at reaching out but are genuinely happy to hear from you and value the relationship. Others might be going through difficult periods that make them less available for social connection. However, if you consistently feel like you're chasing people who seem indifferent to your efforts, it might be time to step back and see who reaches out to you. Try reducing your initiation for a while and notice which Interpersonal relationship naturally fade and which people make an effort to maintain contact. Focus your energy on Interpersonal relationship that feel more reciprocal, even if the reciprocity looks different than you expected.