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Sometimes when people work with psychedelics, they receive insights that feel too big, too scary, or too inconvenient to act upon. Maybe the medicine shows you that your relationship has run its course, or that your career is slowly draining your soul.

Even though the revelation feels undeniably true, you're nowhere near ready to rearrange your whole life around it. So what do you do when psychedelics show you something uncomfortable that you're not ready to change?

For today’s newsletter, we asked our network of experienced practitioners to share their wisdom on navigating this tricky terrain.

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Honor the awareness first

Many guides point out that receiving an insight doesn’t create an immediate obligation to act. Jo Ross says, "Accept and trust that you are in process. These medicines are very empowering, offering you the opportunity to tune into yourself deeply and make honest choices. Be gentle with yourself if you are not ready."

Louis Belleau recommends taking it step by step: "Honor the honesty of the vision, even if you're not ready to act on it. Awareness is the first step; action doesn't have to follow immediately. Let the insight simmer. Psychedelics often show us the direction of change, not a demand to leap."

As Kala Hall puts it: "Something we often say here is 'If it's true today, it'll be true tomorrow, next month, next year.' If a change needs to be made, give it time and trust the process." The medicine provides information, not ultimatums or deadlines. You get to decide your timeline for integration.

Let discomfort be your teacher

Rather than rushing to eliminate uncomfortable feelings, several practitioners suggest leaning in and harvesting them for wisdom. Mindy Tueller asks: "If you aren't ready to make any changes, can you be okay being uncomfortable? Getting out of a place of judgment and into one of discernment through mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude can quiet our noisy minds."

Ben Askins offers a more direct approach: "Admit it. Say: 'I'm not ready.' Don't lie. Don't spiritualize. Don't pretend you didn't see it. Name the fear. Sit in the fire. Let the discomfort build until it becomes action."

Jodie NewDelman reframes the discomfort as preparation: "Practice sitting with the discomfort as valuable information. Consider this a period of 'preparation' rather than procrastination. Sometimes the medicine is teaching patience and self-compassion alongside courage."

Seek supportive witnesses

Almost universally, practitioners stress the importance of capturing your insights and sharing them with others you trust. Brian Lee recommends a systematic approach: "Document, wait, revisit. Journal your learnings immediately after the experience so that they don't disappear in the grind of life. Don't make any big decisions for 30 days after a journey."

Avery Collura highlights the value of safe exploration: "Share what surfaced with someone safe—someone who won't pressure you to change but will hold space for honest, non-judgmental exploration. I love talking with my people about all the what-ifs, even the extreme ones, and then flipping them."

Wallace Murray poetically captures this principle: "Seek others—a therapist, integration circle, or trusted friend—who can witness your unfolding without agenda. Speaking the revelation aloud turns it from private terror into shared humanity."

Our take

This is a real, legitimate risk with psychedelics. Once you see uncomfortable truths with the medicine's unflinching clarity, there's no returning to blissful ignorance. You can't put the genie back in the bottle.

In our experience, though, when psychedelics reveal something "shocking" about your life, it's rarely a total blindside. More often, you're just seeing with higher resolution than usual. You probably knew something was off. Psychedelics (non-specific amplifiers that they are) just cranked up the volume.

So here’s our potentially unpopular opinion: if you're unwilling to make changes in your life, psychedelics probably aren’t for you. These substances are change agents by nature. While these practitioners are right that you don't have to rush to action, eventually you will need to reckon with what you've seen.

Remember, ignoring the truth doesn't make it go away. It just creates more tension between who you are and who you're becoming.

Got a question for our guides?

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Seeking more personalized guidance?

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UNTIL NEXT TIME

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.