Roles grow heavy when appreciation depends on never stepping out of them.

Being valued for something is pleasant until the value turns out to depend on your continuing. The reliable one, the cheerful one, the one who never complains all receive real affection, and all of them learn that the affection has terms. What makes the role heavy is not the work but the sense that stopping would cost you your place.

Test the edges gently: say no to something small, or admit that you found this week hard. The people who stay the same afterwards are showing you what the relationship is actually built on.