When Effort Isn't Returned What It Really Means Effort is one of the clearest forms of honesty. People can say anything, but what they do consistently tells you everything. When you are the only one trying, it slowly drains you. Not because you are asking for too much, but because you are giving too much to someone who is not meeting you halfway. A lack of effort is not confusion. It is clarity. And once you see it for what it is, you are left with a choice about what you will continue to tolerate. Over time, you begin to understand this on a deeper level. It changes how you see people, how you see yourself, and what you are willing to accept moving forward. The awareness might feel heavy at first, but it is also what creates real change.