It’s Complicated…
May 27, 2025
One ordinary day last fall, I went to the doctor for a routine physical which led me down a not so ordinary path. The doctor recommended some supplements which I obediently purchased and began taking. Over the next week a few ordinary annoyances and disappointments happened but the next thing I know I’m crying and angry for days and unsure why. I implemented my self-care arsenal of walking, calling close friends, journaling, and praying, to no avail. I just could not seem to figure out why I felt like an emotionally unstable Incredible Hulk.
I was on a trip to visit family at the time (my poor family). When my trip was over, I drove home like a maniac. There was a hurricane coming and I was determined to miss the worst of it. Now I am usually a savvy driver but on this dreary rainy day I was weaving in and out of traffic, speeding well beyond the limit, and biting the heads off anyone who got in my way. Something was very wrong.
As I reviewed the events from the past week, I decided to research side effects of my supplements. After a deep dive I discovered that restlessness and mood swings happen to some people depending on the formulation of the supplement. I quit taking them immediately and was back to my old self within a day. That was some scary stuff.
Life is complicated but it doesn’t have to be. It’s hard to sort through the parts and pieces and decide what needs to be done. I’m so grateful to the people who took my calls that week and still take my calls. I’m grateful for the person on Reddit who posted about what I was going through. I’m grateful that I listened to that little voice telling me to look into the supplements.
We live in a world where we have lost touch with our inner voice and often with the people around us. I would argue that these are some of the most important things in life and can make a complicated world feel a little more sane.
Having a community of people around you isn’t just about potlucks and cornhole but having people you can turn to when life is challenging. If we aren’t vulnerable to open up to the people around us or to choose people who can handle us at our worst, we miss out on the deep soul-level satisfaction that can take place. Humans were designed to be relational. We are told that we are meant to be independent and don’t need others but this couldn’t be further from the truth. We need each other. And as difficult as relationships can be, the benefit cannot be replicated in a pill or anything you can buy on Amazon, even with free same day delivery.
In the same way, following your intuition can lead you to make better decisions if you learn how to listen correctly. Intuition is defined as our subconscious processing of information and past experiences. Of course trauma and years of not listening can dull this voice, but it’s a skill we are all in desperate need of. Most of us in fact were probably taught not to listen to it. A quick test I’ve learned is to assess how my body is feeling about a decision. Is there peace or an uneasiness? The more you listen to your gut, the easier it gets to tell the difference. The more you follow your intuition, the more you learn to trust yourself and your ability to navigate difficult situations.
Life is complicated but it doesn’t have to be. It’s certainly more complicated to go it alone. It’s less complicated with a support system and a healthy sense of what’s best for you that only you know. What is complicating your life today?