Dear America,
I want to begin with this:
I love you.
I really, truly do.
I lived in your cities. I walked your campuses. I sat in your coffee shops, dreaming of building something that could change the world.
America was where I studied. Where I discovered my voice.
Where I fell in love with ideas that reshaped my life.
Where I started Mindvalley, with nothing but ambition and a belief that anything was possible.
For a full decade, you were my home.
And in many ways, you still are.
I may live elsewhere now, but I still identify as American more than anything else.
Because America—the idea of America—isn’t just geography.
It’s a frequency. A dream. A promise that inspired not just me, but billions of people around the world.
What we loved about you
We loved your optimism—the way you believed anything was possible.
We loved your rebels—the ones who spoke truth to power and rewrote the rules.
We loved your Martin Luther King Jr., whose voice still echoes across continents.
We loved your Silicon Valley, that dared to invent the future.
We loved your Apple, born in a garage, changing the way we connect.
We loved Burning Man, a wild celebration of freedom, creativity, and community in the desert.
We loved your poets, your scientists, your dreamers.
You were never perfect. But damn—you had soul.
You were the lighthouse.
The messy, brilliant, complicated beacon we looked toward for what was possible.
But lately… that light feels like it’s flickering.
What the world sees now
In just six months, this is what the world has seen:
– Threats to abandon NATO, the alliance that preserved peace for generations.
– Pointless trade wars where everyone loses.
– Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty, while the Earth burns.
– And now—bombs falling on Iran.
Another unwinnable war in the Middle East.
A war your people swore they’d never allow again.
Not after Iraq.
Not after Afghanistan.
And it’s not just the outer world we see you destroy.
We see you tearing yourselves apart from within.
- Immigration raids that tear apart families and have caused LA to burn.
- Politicians who sound like children while openly taking bribes.
- Tax cuts for billionaires, while those struggling now actually have to pay more in taxes.
- A climate movement abandoned by the very country where it was born.
And yet—I’m writing this letter with an open heart.
Because I haven’t given up.
This week, I’m helping my son apply to U.S. universities. We’re preparing for a tour of East Coast campuses. Then, I’m driving from South Dakota to Yosemite, with stops at Mount Rushmore and the great open spaces I fell in love with.
I want to show my son America. Because I still believe in what America can be.
But I also cannot stay silent—not as a lover of your culture, not as a global citizen.
This spiral you’re in?
It must be named. And it must be stopped.
Because true friends don’t stay silent when they see you crashing.
The spiral was not a mystery. It was a choice.
Every war.
Every broken treaty.
Every erosion of trust.
It didn’t just happen. It was chosen through voting decisions.
By people who, often unknowingly, chose:
- Ego over empathy.
- Charisma over character.
- Soundbites over substance.
And I don’t blame you.
You were caught in a storm of propaganda. You were tired, misled, afraid.
But we need to be honest:
When you vote for leaders who enable war, destabilize peace, and govern through vengeance, you are not just voting for policy. You are voting for self-destruction.
What happened to service?
A great American president once said:
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy
Another said:
“We must never remain silent in the face of injustice.” – Barack Obama
Even Ronald Reagan once called America a “shining city upon a hill.”
What happened to that America?
Now we see leaders who sow division instead of unity.
Who thrive on conflict rather than compassion.
Who look not to serve, but to rule.
And as Sun Tzu warned:
“Some men would set their own nation ablaze, just to be king over the ashes.”
Can you recognize them?
Because now more than ever, you must.
America, you’ve always known how to tell the story. Now it’s time to live it.
Think of your heroes.
The ones you’ve shown us on screen for decades.
Will Smith in Independence Day.
Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.
They save the world, not just themselves.
They protect their families, but they also rise to a higher mission.
That’s what made us fall in love with you.
Your heroes were never selfish.
They were flawed, yes. But they stood up for something bigger.
So why, in real life, do you so often vote for the opposite?
Your vote is not just yours
I say this with love—and urgency:
Your vote doesn’t just affect your neighborhood. It affects the entire planet.
- It affects the air we all breathe.
- The treaties we all depend on.
- The peace we all hope for.
- The future our children will inherit.
This is no longer about party loyalty or economic policy.
This is about consciousness.
This is about whether the most powerful country on Earth will continue to operate from fear and ego —
Or rise into wisdom and service.
What the world needs from you now
We don’t need another American empire.
We need an American elder.
Not one who dominates. One who guides.
Not one who fears. One who serves.
Because you were never meant to be a fortress.
You were meant to be a lighthouse.
But a lighthouse cannot fulfill its purpose if it forgets to shine inward first.
You taught us to dream. Now we’re asking you to dream again.
The world doesn’t hate you.
We’re not laughing at you.
We’re just watching… and hoping.
Hoping that the America we believed in is still in there.
The next time you march in the streets,
March for all of us.
Not just for the poor or hungry in your zip code.
But for the citizens of our shared planet who need you to shine again.
And when the time comes…
Vote with your heart. And with your higher self.
The choice is yours
Not every election is a turning point.
But some are.
And the one you’re facing now?
This is that moment.
You can vote for leaders who turn the world into a battlefield.
Or vote for those who understand that true power is service.
You can choose:
- Ego or evolution
- Division or destiny
- Fear or future
The world is not asking you to be perfect.
We are simply asking you to remember who you are, at your best.
The America that marched with MLK.
That wrote the Moonshot speech.
That created iPhones, NASA, jazz, and the dream that all humans are created equal.
That’s the America we still believe in.
That’s the America the world needs.
Let that be the America you choose.
— Vishen
Founder, Mindvalley
Citizen of Earth.
Forever shaped by the promise of America.
PS: This letter isn’t just mine—it’s a conversation we all need to have. I’d love to hear how this landed for you. What do you believe America still stands for? What does it need to stand for?
Share your comments below.
Let’s make this a space for reflection, dialogue, and hope.
958 Responses
You do sound quite nostalgic, Vishen—and rightly so.
Yes, technology has progressed. Along with it, the world has changed. And America has changed—perhaps forever.
But the human living process—what it means to dream, to care, to seek purpose—has not changed. Something at its core remains untouched.
The new America still lives in the hearts and minds of millions like yourself—whether they’ve built their own “Mindvalley” or are just beginning to dream.
So let’s not delude ourselves into thinking we can return to the “old” America. Neil Diamond now lives only in our hearts.
It’s still the same old world, swirling around the sun at 30 kilometers per second—each one of us riding along. Not as fast as a race car perhaps, but still a wild ride—especially because we don’t notice it.
Maybe the real question is: Who among us will find their own valley—their own rhythm of meaning, service, and care?
It’s a wild ride.
But then again, when was it not?
Vishen, thank you. You are not divisive in your message to us in my opinion. You are identifying the deep chasms dividing us. It is too bad others are criticizing your concerns as politically based as they are clearly about the USA as having been historically a beacon to the world and now is retracting to isolation and racism.
Thank you, Vishen, for raising your voice and doing so with the clarity and intention you brought to it. Thank you for speaking on behalf of so many of us—those of us watching with concern and anguish from other parts of the world. There will be many comments saying not to talk about politics, but this is not the time to stay silent. This is the time to be crystal clear about our values and to focus on the well-being of all beings who share this planet. Once again, thank you for not staying quiet.
Thank you for this timely message. As someone who has benefitted enormously from Mindvalley programs, gurus and community, it has been hard to trust the ethos of Mindvalley while it ignored and remained silent on our current reality in the U.S. and globally. Thank you for breaking the silence and speaking up clearly and eloquently. Thank you for naming both the love, dreams, and aspirations, and their careless and ignorant betrayal.
We were far from perfect, and our problems did not emerge suddenly. There was much that needed fixing. We understand the frustrations that led so many to put their faith in a chest-beating xenophobe. It will take love and compassion, and a whole new set of skills to be harnessed by communities, not a wildly swinging battle ax, to fix these.
I am optimistic that as we name our shortcomings, more gurus will emerge to provide Mindvalley programming to help us heal our world together.
I didn’t sign up for this type of email, and I don’t want to see it in my mailbox. I’d actually like to cancel my membership to mindvalley. As a LEGAL immigrant to America, a country I love, I cannot support those who did not use due process to enter, but burn cities down demanding it when told to leave. I paid HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars to be here. Should I get it back? I don’t see you telling “truth” about Canada, where I am from. You single out the US. If you don’t like America… LEAVE. Don’t run Americans down while sending IG pix back to Canada of your vacation in the Grand Canyon. Go to Niagara Falls and bitch. But most of all, DO NOT BITCH IN MY INBOX. Scroll on if you don’t like us. Vishen is now part of the problem and I don’t appreciate this bait and switch. Stick to your classes.
Truth hurts.
Feel it.
Starting with the inflated ego of a country that calls itself America and has left behind an entire continent. This letter should be called “A Letter to the United States,” a country that has always been selfish, racist and elitist. It’s a turning point, yes, because now all the shit has exploded. It has been a country with opportunities, but with many weaknesses, failures, and challenges. The United States of today is a reflection of that.
This letter is beautifully heartfelt—full of hope and idealism that America can still be the shining city on a hill.
But, man, there’s a side of the story that’s not just about flickering lights or lost promises. It’s more like a wildfire blazing under the surface, fueled by layers of corruption and power plays that have been quietly running the show for years.
Let’s talk about some of the darker chapters that make this ideal harder to grasp:
The Deep Corruption:
The sprawling influence of agencies like DoD, FBI, CIA, USAID is no secret, but the extent of their involvement in foreign and domestic affairs—sometimes to protect vested interests rather than public good—is staggering. Over the past 10 years, there’s been increasing evidence of systemic corruption, often hidden behind layers of bureaucracy and secrecy.
Then came COVID—a crisis that exposed just how intertwined big pharma and government really are. Billions flowed into pharmaceutical companies, sometimes at the expense of transparency and accountability. The pandemic wasn’t just a public health event; it became a colossal profit engine for those already holding immense power. And let’s not forget how government agencies, influenced by industry lobbying, often made decisions that favoured profits over people, with more and more evidence of this now surfacing.
Add to that the immense power the energy and tech industries hold over policy decisions. It’s like watching puppeteers pulling strings behind a curtain labelled “democracy.” This power dynamic has fuelled policies that don’t always serve the people but protect entrenched interests, widening inequality and eroding trust.
The Reality Check:
While your words beautifully remind us of America’s spirit and its potential to rise, we can’t ignore the reality that for many, that dream feels more like a mirage. The choice isn’t just between ego and empathy or division and destiny. It’s also about confronting these deep, systemic issues that have shaped the country’s current state.
So yeah, I love the idealism too. But I think if America truly wants to shine inward and lead as that “American elder,” it needs to take a hard, honest look at these ugly truths—because no lighthouse can guide if its foundations are riddled with cracks. I have faith truth and love with find a way.
Thank you so much for getting involved. It is time for the people to take the control back and make a country that the voting system is real and functional. For my entire life I’ve known that the vote of the people is not what decides the elections and the elected president
Is only a puppet and a scapegoat. It is time we imagineer a new tomorrow and it starts with this dialogue. Let us get this thing started with love and truth. With respect and equality. I’m willing to work for the future I want my children and grandchildren to thrive in. No matter what your political beliefs, this is now on a totally different level. No more separations. Speak, communicate with those around you and connect with the heart. I love you all! Let’s come together.
Thank You for this Beautifully written piece that express everything I feel and think as many of my friends, neighbours, acquaintances and co workers do.
Lifting up our spirits with Hope and Love for one another to create a wave of people to transcend true humanity.
Expressing so to stand up for each other, to reclaim dignity not only for ourselves and each other but also for those around us, that this world is unjustly let them be victims of zealots, wannabe extreme rulers, narcissists to the core, afraid to be found out of their own vulnerability, incapable to face themselves and cope with their shadow… and so they unravel onto others at the cost of everyone’s life and peace.
Vishen, you don’t speak for me. I reckon you’ve lost the plot!
Love it…but it also makes me feel sad.
I have had difficulty making sense of how this could even happen in the US…Donald a second time…but we (Aotearoa New Zealand) also voted in right and right right political parties last election. The changes here are all about disempowerment of the majority to benefit the well off minority. We also have to hope for a change next year in our elections.
Is the new age of living digitally making us lose our humanity? Making us more self centred/absorbed that we don’t consider those less well off.
How do we build a world where ego doesn’t get in the way. Because every good idea seems hijacked by the power hungry.
As i read these inspiring thoughts, there is still this lingering question: how can we ease this hate spreading like wildfire in the U.S.? People have become so hateful that they close their mind; cannot and don’t want to see what’s really happening so they believe full of lies, deception, fraud, all nonsense and don’t try to see any truth.
Right now, what we are seeing is the massive accumulation of bribery and corruption, which was bred from a mindset of lack and greed in a competitive environment of capitalism, where survival of the fittest wins, and the less fit become slaves. Capitalism doesn’t work, and if America is to survive, it needs a new form of government where lawlessness can’t survive. I don’t believe that the world has designed a successful form of government, each has their own problems. Right now America is out of control of the government, it’s bought and paid for by corporations Blackrock, State Street, and Vanguard. The question is, “How do we get America back?” George Soros, Bill Gates, the Vatican… the list is long of who is really in control, but there are more of us, at least there still is. If we all refused to play in their matrix game tomorrow it would be “Game Over,” but most people consciously and unconsciously choose fear, and so they keep playing slave. The best form of government is self government, but we are far from that. They say that every man has his price, and unfortunately, that’s true for most people here. When people choose Love, compassion, Truth, and integrity, that will be the day that we can all enjoy self government. Meanwhile, we all get to recycle, till we ALL learn our Spiritual lessons… Now, if we can ALL help each other to learn our Spiritual lessons, that would be our most efficient use of time till we can ALL be One Love…
I have followed and been inspired by many of Mindvalley’s contributions for the betterment of mankind. However, I am quite surprised and disappointed by this reaction from Vishen. I have truly benefitted and learnt so much from the talks about Dispenza, Jeff Allen, David Ghiyam, Marisa Peers and many many more of the thought mentors on MindValley who have constantly shared how to change the world, we start within, with ourselves. It’s finding the peace within, it’s the self-approval, the unconditional love, the wholeness, realising the divine power within to change and create our reality. As Greg Braden pointed out with the international peace project and his principle of prayer, the key is in BEING the peace, the goodness we seek. Why would we polarise people more than they are already? The whole point of MINDVALLEY has been to help transform people from inside out instead of charging them up and focusing on the mistakes, the issues that we see (which may just be the 0.0037% of the EMS, a limited understanding we get from the news media which again is created by personal or group controlled perceptions ) . In the understanding of quantum spirituality, we know that we can cause the waves to collapse into particles and therefore CHANGE matter — create our reality. So before you even engage and take action as Vishen suggests, it’s best to probably go within, be still and BE consciously aware of the Truth, the peace, the harmony, the Love and the wisdom you want for the world and America’s leadership. IT’s NOT the person in charge — as US history will show. The issue is with the people , the polarity in society, the negative notions not nations. Spirituality 101 begins with each person within BEING, not doing. Not trying to CHANGE things but BEING the change. I would say this: Every judgment you hold becomes a subconscious lens.
It affects how others relate to you… and how you relate to yourself.. it goes as far as your community, your state, your country!
If you want peace in the world, embody it.
If you want wisdom in leadership, send love to leaders.
If you want healing, practice gratitude.
What if we honored our leaders by holding the vision of their highest wisdom —
not their worst mistakes?
What if our minds became temples of gratitude,
not battlegrounds of blame?
You are not powerless.
You are a broadcaster.
A signal. A frequency.
You Are Always Tuning In — And Transmitting Out. What are we, each one of us, broadcasting ? Are we healing or harming, fueling the discord by thinking negatively, judging your government, their decisions. As Nevile Godard would put it, focus on the outcome, the Wish Fulfilled. Embrace and direct your thoughts/energy on WHAT YOU WANT and NOT what YOU DON’T WANT. Where, your focus flows, energy goes. Energy, Vibration, Frequency — change your energy, change your life and your world…and yes, your America!
Debbie, this is excellent and exactly how Vishen should be speaking about this. His post comes from a place of powerlessness and bias.
Neville Goddard once said” “Man’s attempt to change the world by force is as fruitless as breaking a mirror in the hope of changing his face. Leave the mirror and change your face. Leave the world alone and change your conceptions of yourself. The reflection then will be satisfactory”
Beautiful letter, stated precisely in reality the exact way that I feel and most people I know would agree with you. Thank you for putting into words an important message. I’m inspired.
Dear Vishen,
I applaud you for at least starting a narrative where many others should be questioning not only the US, but also its supporters of the current injustices. I too want to be positive and see an America, that can be a beacon of hope, justice and equality for people all over the world. However, the reality is America’s history is mired in war,aggression, inequality and profit before people.
Just as mindful individuals, we are encouraged to look at our history, see the negative patterns of behaviour, be honest and address them in order to move forward, countries have to do the same. If not, they keep repeating the patterns in ever worsening cycles. This what we are seeing play out right now, not only in the US, but much of the west ( and other countries),to maintain geopolitical dominance at the cost of others and eventually their own people. If we stand back for a moment, and really reflect on how many of today’s wars and atrocities are a continuation of a historic cycle..we may be able to ask why..and then ..How do we move forward to a better balanced world for everyone. I believe it is MLK who said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!”
I’ve been waiting for this message from you, Vishan. It seemed almost hypocritical to be focused on all the great self-help without a nod to the Great Darkness that is overtaking our nation. Because the United States’ leadership has been so influential in a world of order and peace, living out some of the ideals made real by our founders, our darkness is global. So thank you for not being silent. There is no way to say what you said in ways that will reach people the way they want to hear it. But that is just complaining and “making wrong.” A lot of that is going around in this environment. And you won’t be able to reach the people who have drunk the Cool Aid. I am unable to explain why rational adults voted the first convicted felon as President of our great country. Many of them don’t regret lowering us to this level. This Administration is doing a great job at gaslighting and clouding reality. (Watch the movie “Gaslight” for an understanding of where the word came from. It’s chilling.) The confusion is part of the chaos smokescreen. But this kind of psychic and emotional brokenness is part of the work. The work that you do on your platform can help make people stronger in their self-knowledge and less susceptible to this massive manipulation. It’s urgent. A platform like Mind Valley can’t ignore the tear in the force. I don’t have action recommendations for how to address it. But I think naming it is a good start. Thank you.
I don’t understand how someone so focused on higher vibration would interject their political views so as to lower the vibration of a non political venue. Vishen are you not fulfilled? Are you going to run for President of the United States?
Sadly disappointed,
It’s not about “their political view” it is about saving a democracy which is slipping into fascism.
Greetings from Austria, the country that gave birth to Hitler – we’ve had that big shit.
It’s not a democracy and nothing can be more fascist than Operation Crossfire Hurricane
Wow, Vishen. I love your work. But we have so much to learn. I, too, have felt much the same way as you, but then stuff happened, and I had to reassess. It took a LOT of work. So many beautiful, patient, and respectful dissenting words on this thread — please study them. Basically, in a world full of so many desires and all the resulting agendas, we can believe none of what we hear, and but half that we see, as Poe wrote. It seems pretty clear: Somebody wants to do democracy in, humanity be damned, and they have their fingers in both camps, working them like a seesaw, so too many heartfelt, passionate lies surround and penetrate us. Good luck, my friend.
I will always listen to dissenting views—and I’ll always follow that up with research. We all need to be doing the same. It’s clear to me that this election was lost, in large part, to coordinated misinformation efforts (and possibly other influences still under review). As a collective, we have serious work ahead of us in cleaning up the damage these disinformation campaigns have caused.
While I respect your views and encourage everyone to speak their truth, sadly there is another side to this story. As a Native of the San Francisco Bay Area, things have changed for the worse and not just under the current administration. We the people no longer feel safe, supported nor empowered. Where were you when we were on social media sites asking for God’s help? Obviously not here. Business’s have closed down, boarded up, and the people have moved on. There’s trash and homeless encampments everywhere. Look it up on facebook, the different pages on “Leaving California” you are correct in that this is not the Country in which we grew up. The Police rarely show up when you call them. I could ho on and on but We stood up, we needed real change and we voted.
Unless your of Turtle Island heritage (of indigenous descent), I’d suggest making that a lowercase “n” for “native”. Thank you.
I am a bit disappointed that you would post such left wing garbage. I would no longer subscribe to MindValley after bringing politics and such divide unnecessarily to your subscribers. You will fall in line w the Budlight decline. I will be unsubscribing tonight, Keep your opinions to yourself.
Personal development should not be used, to blind our eyes on what is happening in the outside world.
And it is not a matter of political opinion or left or right, but a matter of facts that right now the most powerful democracy in the world is slipping into fascism and severe mistreatment of minorities.
Should he have not spoken up to the Nazis ad well?
Greetings from Austria, the country that gave birth to Hitler – we’ve had that big shit.