Eventually it will all catch up with you

We are too tiny and unimportant for the universe.

Wrong. We are all the universe.

how do you know when the universe is talking to you?

The universe manifests and "communicates" with everyone differently. Life, common sense, god, the voice of reason in your head, gut instinct...we all call it something different. We should listen to it more often.

Maybe you're being gangstalked

I fight the universe, and the universe promised to catch up with me..

Instant karma

I agree.

Except - I've gone thru weird, hard times - as part of helping someone else (mate) learn a lesson.

Many hear. Most don't listen. Hardest part - trusting and believing what you hear.

how do we know what's best for us...?

First, realize that "what is best for us" isn't usually the easiest and/or most pleasant route available.

My belief--

Say you have a lesson to learn.
The universe will give you that lesson.
If you don't learn it, the lesson will return more pronounced or harder.

This repeats itself until you learn that specific lesson.

So, in truth, the easiest ways, is to learn yr lesson on the first go round, not the 5th.

Don't make me come down there. - God

Everything you do is an interaction with the Universe.