The Things You’re Complaining About Are Your Medicine

The heat wave. A low bank account. A flat tire. A pimple. Could these be our medicine?

What if we're unnecessarily protecting ourselves from something that is good? 

You may have heard the phrase “Let food be thy medicine.” It’s a quote attributed to Hippocrates the Father of modern medicine in 400 BC. I agree wholeheartedly.

But our diet, of course, is comprised of more than just food. It includes EVERYTHING we take in: the music we listen to, the shows we watch, the people we interact with and more.

This is why I’m convinced that ALL that we experience in life is our medicine. Not just the good bits that we happily welcome (a day at the beach, a sumptuous meal, a visit to a farm or park). The troublesome bits are also for our benefit, for our good. These serve a purpose deeper than we may understand, at first blush.

To be specific, the following are our medicine, too:

Sickness.

Difficult circumstances.

Challenging people.

“Before you dismiss this way of thinking, as toxic positivity or a pie-in-the-sky mindset, let me be clear. I’m not saying any of the above feel good. I’m suggesting that they are good.”

Before you dismiss this way of thinking, as toxic positivity or a pie-in-the-sky mindset, let me be clear. I’m not saying any of the above feel good. I’m suggesting that they are good.

Compost makes the strawberries grow, after all. What we think of as waste (cow manure and chicken poop), truly sh*%tty stuff, contributes to the perfect condition for nurturing delectable fruit.

Below I lay out how we usually think of annoyances, disturbances, and crap we’d rather avoid, along with an initial framework for how we can receive it/perceive it differently.

Sickness. Conventional thinking: avoid catching a cold, the chicken pox, and anyone bearing such illnesses or anything else that might sideline us for a few days. Take Tylenol to reduce a fever and decongestants for any stuffiness or cough.

Sickness as medicine: We detox (through a fever or vomiting) what isn’t serving the body well and recalibrate (through fasting and rest) to a new state of wellbeing. It’s a vehicle for an upgrade. With a changed perspective, we regard sickness as a tool for a new level of health.

Difficult circumstances. Conventional thinking: I’ve got to get out of debt, this dead-end job, this bad neighborhood. I’m depressed and in a funk until I do. I feel stuck.

Difficult circumstances as medicine: The toughest workout produces the best results. You persevere in the middle of the crap. You don’t wait for things to shift for you to feel better. You acknowledge your feelings and act with focus and intention to improve what you can (do your best) and let go of the rest. With a changed perspective, you feel better even if nothing around you changes and build resilience.

Challenging people. Conventional thinking: Avoid anyone “toxic”. If you feel triggered by someone, stay away. Or stand your ground and return fire (unkind words, a snarky attitude, etc.) with fire.

Challenging people as medicine: Thank you, Sensei. This is a simple phrase I turn to when someone triggers or pushes me emotionally. I look at them as a teacher. What can I learn about myself from our interaction? Am I protecting my ego when I perceive them as unkind toward me? If so, why? What if the best defense were to be less reactive and to offer gratitude and grace? Tug of war stops the second you drop your end of the rope. Tough teachers suck but also push just enough for you to learn a lesson and come out better on the other side. With a changed perspective, difficult people are teachers, offering you a gift: the opportunity to develop humility, patience, and kindness.

Not every day is a walk in the park or fun in the sun...and maybe that's a good thing!

These three are just the tip of the complaints into prospects for growth. Turn it into a game and turn everything on its head! Could the heat wave be your medicine? Little money in your bank account? A flat tire? Acne? Comment below and tell me what your medicine is today!

For more along these lines, listen to Wise Traditions podcast 364 “Your Life is Your Medicine” with Dr. Cassie Huckaby.