Why Is Everything So Damn Hard? Reclaiming Your Humanity in a World of Red Tape

Written and Reviewed by: Dr. Rita Louise, PhD, ND

I’ve got my “complaining shirt” on today, and honestly? I’m on a roll. Want to join me on a mission of reclaiming your humanity? Here’s the thing. I want to know why, in a world where we have more technology and connectivity than ever before, every single aspect of navigating daily life has become a giant, soul-crushing roadblock. It often feels like we are being systematically trained to just accept that everything is a pain in the butt, as if the dysfunction is a natural law of physics rather than a choice made by the institutions we fund. Well, I am beyond tired of it, and I know I am not alone in this exhaustion.

The Automated Hellscape

The frustration begins the moment you attempt a simple interaction with the modern world. It starts the second you pick up your phone. You might just want a simple piece of information, but instead, you are greeted by a digital gatekeeper—a recording that wants to walk you through a labyrinth of menus. You are forced to choose a language, listen to a three-minute announcement about a website you’ve already visited, and then get asked if you’d like to take a survey about a service you haven’t even received. By the time you hear a menu option that halfway makes sense, your eyes are glazed over and your blood pressure is climbing.

The Perpetual Hold

Then comes the perpetual hold. I recently spent two hours on hold with a government organization, literally having to plug my phone into a wall charger just to keep the connection alive while waiting for a human voice. When a person finally did answer, they didn’t have the information I needed. In fact, they spoke to me as if I had three eyes and a pointy tail. They had no idea how to navigate their own system, despite the issue falling squarely under their organization’s purview. This isn’t just a lack of training; it’s a systemic breakdown where the people tasked with helping have been rendered as powerless and confused as the people seeking help.

Efficiency vs. Disrespect

I’m sure this has happened to you.  You are asked to input your account number, birthday, and addresses into automated systems, only for the human on the other end to ask for that exact same information ten seconds later. It is inefficient, disrespectful, and frankly, it is a form of psychological warfare that wears down our sense of agency. This level of friction in daily life isn’t just annoying; it’s a drain on our life force that prevents us from focusing on our growth, our families, and our purpose.

The “Insurance Loop” of Denial

The bureaucracy of care is perhaps the most cynical expression of this trend. Take, for example, a simple dental claim. I recently broke a tooth. It was a clear-cut, undeniable medical need. My dentist, who is excellent and thorough, submitted the claim. Denied. I called my unsurance provider and was told they didn’t receive the “narrative.” So, the claim was submitted again. Denied once more for the same reason.

A Deliberate Cycle of Exhaustion

By the third call, the story changed. They admitted they had received the narrative twice, but now claimed it “wasn’t detailed enough.” When I asked for the specific information they required, the representative informed me that they weren’t allowed to tell me what details or the kind of details they were looking for. It is a deliberate, circular loop designed to exhaust you until you give up and just pay out of pocket. We have become the unpaid employees of these billion-dollar corporations, forced to spend hours of our lives acting as the middleman between professionals just to get a company to do the job we pay them for. Where is my compensation for doing their work?

The War on Caregivers

This war on the human spirit is even more devastating for those in care giving roles. If you are a caregiver for an elderly parent or a disabled loved one, the system is designed to shut you out. Whether you are dealing with Medicare, Social Security, or a hospital billing department, the run-around is constant. You are given dead-end phone numbers or passed off to other offices or agencies who can’t, are unwilling or unable to help.

The Vacuum of Empathy

Often, they will tell you they can only speak to the patient, even when the patient is physically or cognitively incapable of doing so. Imagine having to put a deaf, comatose, autistic or otherwise disabled individual on the phone so that the representative can get their verbal authorization to talk to you. They might not be able to hear the representative; they might not understand what the person on the phone is asking so you have to prompt your loved one with correct answers, that is, if they can. What a joke.

There is a total vacuum of logic and empathy, and seemingly no one in charge who actually understands the human stakes involved. It is as if the system prays that you will simply evaporate under the weight of the red tape. It is exhausting on so many levels.

The Death of Accountability

We are witnessing the death of accountability across the board. Whether it’s the lack of transparency in Congress, the withholding of high-profile files, dealing with a multitude of corporate and government agencies, the theme remains the same: we pay the bill, but they do not deliver. It can leave one feeling that we, humanity, is at the very bottom of the priority list. Bottom line, reclaiming your humanity in a robot filled world seems to be the only answer.

Enough is Enough: Reclaiming Your Humanity

I’m not here to talk politics; I’m here to talk about the human psyche and the state of our collective sovereignty. This frustration is bubbling to the surface because people are desperate for a world that makes sense again. We want to be treated like people, with names, stories, and needs, not as policy numbers, data points, or “units” in a spreadsheet.

I don’t have the answers for fixing a global system of inefficiency, but I know where the shift begins. It begins with us refusing to accept this as “just the way it is.” We have to stop normalizing the dysfunction. We must speak up, demand better, and maintain our autonomy even when the system tries to automate us into submission. We have to reclaim our time and our dignity by reminding these institutions that they exist to serve us, not the other way around.

Reclaiming Your Energy: The 30-Second “Line-Drop” Technique

Navigating these soul-crushing systems doesn’t just waste your time; it can leave an energetic residue, “bad mojo” in your field. You might notice that even after you hang up the phone, your shoulders are tight, your breath is shallow, and you feel a sense of lingering agitation. This is because your energy has become entangled with the bureaucratic static of the institution you were dealing with.

To reclaim your sovereignty and reset your vibration, try this simple 30-second technique as soon as you end the interaction:

1. The Physical Break Immediately stand up and shake out your hands and feet. This physical movement helps break the Freeze response and signals to your nervous system that the perceived threat is over.

2. The Intentional Disconnect Close your eyes and visualize a glowing cord connecting you to the phone or computer you just used. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale sharply, imagine yourself unplugging that cord. Mentally state: “I reclaim my time, my energy, and my peace. This frequency is not mine.”

3. Ground and Reset Place both feet flat on the floor. Imagine roots growing from your soles deep into the earth, pulling up cool, neutral energy to replace the heat of the frustration. Take three slow, deep breaths, focusing on the expansion of your belly rather than your chest.

By taking thirty seconds, you can prevent the negative telephone encounter from looping in your mind for the rest of the day. You are essentially clearing the red tape out of your aura so you can return to what truly matters: your own life and your own light.

Are you as tired of the run-around as I am?

One a side note:  Google requires, for good search engine placement for an author to include links to reputable websites that support their argument. It is interesting that in finalizing this article, that the only articles associated stress accrued during a phone call is the stress the customer service agents experience.  Not to say that isn’t a real thing.  There are days they have to deal with me, and I am not too happy…  BUT, it seems as if the whole concept of what we the users experience is totally ignored, as if it is not a thing. Just found that interesting and wanted to share – cause I am on a roll…    

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About The Author

Dr. Rita Louise is a Naturopathic Physician who specializes in medical intuition. She has over 30 years of clinical experience in holistic wellness and trauma recovery. She is the founder of the Institute of Applied Energetics and a bestselling author of seven books on health, healing, psychology and the human experience. Dr. Louise holds a PhD in Natural Health Counseling and is a recognized expert in the mind-body connection. Her work focuses on patient advocacy and empowering individuals through informed health choices. Connect with Dr. Rita’s research on Substack or explore her clinical services at SoulHealer.com.

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