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.
952 Responses
From where I sit, afraid and full of uncertainty, I want you to know that many of us agree with you and feel that this president (I will not call him a leader) was not elected. Hundreds of thousands have hit the streets and will continue to do so. But again, from where I sit, I don’t believe that will help. Many of us are feeling depressed and retreating into ourselves—hiding from what’s coming next. We are paralyzed by fear. We not only fear war, but the loss of everything we have fought for so many times. We also need to realize that the US is not a country born out of peace. We first wiped out the indigenous peoples, promoted slavery, and fought a civil war. Now those in power are trying to erase the truth from our education system. I appreciate your letter, but you are not seeing that most of us did not vote for what is happening. And what is happening is what has been in the background until now – corporate greed. Oligarchical greed. And just plain greed from all income levels. I’m not sure how to fight that.
A Different Lens on America: Beyond the Flickering Light
Dear Vishen,
Your open letter to America resonates with a deep sense of connection and a heartfelt plea for a nation you clearly admire and have been shaped by. Your love for the “idea of America”—its optimism, its rebels, its innovators—is palpable, and your concern for its current trajectory is genuinely expressed. It’s true that for many, America has been a beacon, a land of immense possibility and profound influence.
However, your letter, while well-intentioned, presents a largely singular narrative, one that perhaps overlooks the complexity and resilience inherent in a nation as vast and diverse as the United States. While the concerns you raise about global policy and internal divisions are valid points of discussion, framing the current state as a “spiral” or a “choice” made “unknowingly” by a misled populace risks oversimplification.
The Enduring Spirit of Innovation and Progress
You speak of the Silicon Valley that dared to invent the future and the Apple born in a garage. This spirit hasn’t vanished. Innovation continues at an astonishing pace, not just in tech, but across countless sectors, often driven by the very “dreamers” you celebrate. American scientists, entrepreneurs, and artists continue to push boundaries, address global challenges, and create cultural touchstones that resonate worldwide. To suggest this light is merely “flickering” perhaps underestimates the sheer momentum of American ingenuity and the ongoing pursuit of progress in countless fields.
Acknowledging Nuance in Global Relations
Your concerns about international relations—NATO, trade wars, climate treaties, and conflicts—are widely discussed and debated within the U.S. itself. These are not simple, unilateral decisions but often the result of complex geopolitical considerations, differing national interests, and a dynamic global landscape. While some policy shifts may be alarming to external observers, they are often a reflection of internal political processes and the ebb and flow of democratic governance. The “bombs falling on Iran” doesn’t fully capture the ongoing diplomatic efforts and internal debates within the U.S. on such critical matters.
The Strength of Internal Dialogue and Dissent
You highlight internal divisions, immigration raids, and political rhetoric, and indeed, these are pressing issues that Americans themselves are actively grappling with. However, the very fact that these issues are openly debated, protested, and challenged—often fiercely—is a testament to the enduring strength of American democratic principles. The “tearing yourselves apart” can also be viewed as a robust, albeit sometimes messy, process of self-correction and a vibrant marketplace of ideas where citizens actively hold their leaders accountable. The climate movement, far from being “abandoned,” continues to be a powerful force in the U.S., with significant grassroots activism, state-level initiatives, and renewed federal focus, even amidst changing political tides.
“Voting for Self-Destruction” – A Potentially Unfair Assessment
Your assertion that voting for certain leaders means “voting for self-destruction” or being “caught in a storm of propaganda” suggests a lack of agency or understanding on the part of the American voter. While external influences and misinformation are challenges, American voters are not a monolithic entity. Their choices are often deeply personal, driven by a complex interplay of economic concerns, social values, regional identities, and diverse interpretations of national interest. To suggest they “unknowingly” chose ego over empathy simplifies the nuanced motivations behind democratic participation.
The Enduring Power of “What Can You Do For Your Country”
The quotes from Kennedy, Obama, and Reagan beautifully capture ideals that still hold immense sway for many Americans. The spirit of service, community, and standing against injustice is deeply embedded in the national psyche and is demonstrated daily through countless acts of local heroism, volunteerism, and advocacy. While political leadership may appear to deviate from these ideals at times, the underlying commitment to a better society remains a powerful force within the citizenry.
America as a Lighthouse: Still Guiding, Still Learning
You call for America to be an “elder” and a “lighthouse,” not a “fortress.” For many, America still strives to embody these roles, albeit imperfectly. Its continued contributions to global science, medicine, humanitarian aid, and cultural exchange demonstrate a nation that, despite its internal struggles, remains deeply engaged with the world and often seeks to lead through example and collaboration. The world’s continued engagement with American culture, universities, and ideas suggests that the belief in “the America we believed in” is far from extinguished.
Ultimately, America is a dynamic, evolving nation, constantly negotiating its ideals with its realities. While acknowledging its challenges and missteps is crucial, it’s equally important to recognize its enduring strengths, its capacity for self-correction, and the unwavering commitment of many of its citizens to uphold the very ideals you cherish. Perhaps the conversation needs to shift from a lament of what’s been lost to a recognition of what persists, what is being actively fought for, and the diverse pathways forward being forged by millions of Americans every day.
This isn’t going to age well, if the cease fire holds
Hi sir I’m a Mosharof Hosen khan from Bangladesh
I don’t read long blogs…ever… I read this, all the way through. BRAVO! 👏
Well said. Heartfelt and Wise. I will be sharing so others will hear it and be inspired to action. Thank you for your courage to speak your truth to all.
THANK YOU VISHEN 🌺✨
Michèle (Belgium)
You should go back to India and compare the differences. In India you are ruled by a near dictator, and live in a truly filthy country. For Christ sake you can’t even keep an extremely large part of your population from pissing in the streets, the roads and sides of buildings are permanently stained with dried urine.
From one glass house dweller to another.
The USA is an imperfect experiment in self rule that is always self correcting. So much so that our nations moto should be “This too shall pass” and because of Devine Providence we still have it really great.
Ben Arata
Thank you so much for speaking out. You are the first and only person in the world of personal development that I know of that has done so – the ones that I follow anyhow and my respect for them has severely plummeted.
You are right to share your thoughts with the world and I will never forget that you have done so when so many others aren’t.
Just don’t forget Gaza.
United we stand…Divided we fall!!! “We the people” are fully responsible for the changes we want to see and it doesn’t happen in who we vote for, it happens within each of our souls. Just because the way we do things is the only way we currently know how to do things doesn’t mean that it is the only way forward or that it is aligning with our greater purpose anymore. (I encourage everyone to read the book “Moneyless Society”). It’s time to go back to the drawing boards and create a better world for all of its inhabitants. Sure, money/currency, greed, competition, and power have been great launching pads to get us to the point we are now, but it’s time for a new era. We have already created a beautiful place full of the most amazing experiences life has to offer, but all of it is locked up behind a paywall for most and people are clinging onto the “money” that they have been taught is necessary for living. It really doesn’t have to be this way anymore. This earth was our blessing to share inhabit and be good stewards of, but even her natural resources are blocked by a paywall, and we are dangerously abusing them and steadily destroying them. It’s time for character and integrity to become the new “value” in our societies. We need to treat others the way we want to be treated and love one another unconditionally. We need to stop competing for money and status and begin to build a world that respects and supports each other and our planet. Together, without any boundaries or borders, we are all humans and we are all connected. Regardless of the circumstances I fully believe that love and light will prevail and I am hoping and praying that enough people will see and unite and help each other create a better future for all of humanity!!!
Well said, Vishen. It is so hard to digest what is happening on this planet. I am a US citizen and a Colombian. Your open letter supports my beliefs and what I think about the United States of America. We cannot let some egotistic and narcissistic people destroy this country and deteriorate the world. Our love for each other and for humanity must be stronger to align with the Universe, God, Allah, or whatever we believe in, and overcome that destruction. Peace be with you and with the whole world!
TRUMP´S AMERICA IS FUCKED
Hi Vishen – Your third eye is truly wide open, and I’m deeply inspired by your gift for transforming your vision into such respectful thoughts and actions. Although I’m not American, I carry vivid memories of a time when the United States held dear the values of respect for every human being, truthfulness, and the pursuit of the greater good. It was a time when doing what was right mattered, even if it meant facing difficult truths about American society and history—truths that people like me, of a different culture, may not have fully understood or appreciated. I recall a time when American films, regardless of their genre, ended on a note of hope and optimism. And so, I choose to remain hopeful. I have precious family and friends who are now Americans. The next generation of my family are partly American. I will place my faith in the institutions that have made these 50 states remarkable, always striving for a brighter tomorrow. I hope they will make the right choices, I hope they find their way back to that “city upon the hill”. May God bless America.
Dear Vishen, I have a question to you. Why do you think, the world could be a better place? We live in Samsara here. And in Samsara nothing will change. It is only the eternal cycle of birth, illness, death and rebirth. Look into the history. There were always wars, robbery and murder.
Thank you for this. I hope it makes an impact for someone still falling subject to the intense gaslighting, lies and fear mongering coming from the office of the President and his supporters.
I have been and will continue to protest, speak up and fight for what is right. I too love America, but today am embarrassed and sad by what the leadership represents and is doing. It’s disgusting.
Hi Vishen,
I don’t know if this email will reach you but I’m sending it anyways. I find many truths in your letter to us, however there is something that is not sitting well with me. The why we are here. It’s not as simple as voting. What I’m finding is that there is a big disconnect between the U.S. government and its People. This current administration is a symptom of what both political parties have allowed to unfold. We voted for the people we believed could lead us forward. Instead, people in both parties CHOSE corporations over the People. Over, and over, and over again. This was decades in the making through lack of regulation of big corporations, super PACs in elections, allowing loopholes when it comes to taxation of the wealthy, war mongering, on and on.
As you’re aware there are hard working immigrants being taken from a country they’ve called home just because they didn’t get here “the right way” even though they’ve been indigenous to these lands since before the United States ever existed. Brown People of the Americas are indiginous. The ones fighting to protect them are the People. Our “Democratic” politicians can only be found in front of the camera making soft statements. That’s about as helpful as one glass of water to put out a forrest fire. It’s the People chasing down these agents. It’s the People organizing to show up to defend during a raid. It’s the People demanding to see warrents, demanding to see identification from those who chose to work for this current administration. We’ve been lied to, gaslighted, and let down repeatedly by both parties. So sorry to the World for the delay, it’s difficult to dust yourself off from betrayal. Trust me, it sucks to wake up knowing we’re not the good guys. Corruption runs deep and there was rott down to the foundation. As far as us voting for this, it’s one third of the population that said yes with the help of Musk.
I hope your son gets to see the America you love. I see it still. I’d like to think we’re a scrappy country with big diversity and an expanding heart. My hope is we hack at the rott, let it fall away and allow what is good be the new foundation for the future we choose to build.
America needs more of this stuff, to counter act nonsense from politicians.
Dear Vishen,
I read your Letter to America twice and both times, I felt goosebumps run through my body. It wasn’t just a letter, it was a calling, a spiritual arc that passed through my heart. In a world of noise, yours was a voice of clarity. The most truthful thing I’ve read in a long time.
This isn’t just your letter. It’s ours, a conversation every conscious soul needs to have.
And you asked:
What do you believe America still stands for?
What does it need to stand for?
To me, America must stand for vision, not division, building bridges as always not walls.
For freedom with responsibility, not privilege for the few.
For healing, not performance.
For humanity, not ego.
I’m a mother of a 9y old daughter, I don’t think about me but I think about my daughter’s generation . In this age of AI, I dream of a world where she won’t have to fear being hurt, kidnapped, or erased.
Because AI will be used to protect, to expose injustice instantly, to make sure truth rises.
I dream of a world without war, without hypocrisy or hidden agendas, where people live not in fear or competition, but in alignment with who God created them to be.
A world where we no longer wear masks, but simply live the joy of being.
I hope more of us start thinking like you, and acting like you.
Because this letter… it was more than beautiful. It was necessary.
With deep gratitude and vision
Chef Amina Ly
Vishen,
You’ve been in my Top 10 most admired people for years.
Mindvalley was a refuge for me—an escape from the noise of politics and indoctrination. A place where people from all walks of life could pursue growth, mastery, and meaning. That’s why your open letter hit me hard. Not because I disagree with most of your views—disagreement is healthy. But because I feel blindsided by the direction this platform is starting to take.
I remember when I first discovered Toastmasters. As someone who has stuttered most of my life, I nearly skipped my own high school graduation—despite being class valedictorian. But Toastmasters gave me a voice. I rose through the ranks—VP of PR, Club President, Area Director responsible for five clubs, and then I won speech contests. It wasn’t just about speaking; it was about helping others grow too.
Until politics got in the way.
A high-level decision was made to insert a former World Championship finalist into my area to give him an easier path back to the finals. I understood the ambition—but at the expense of others who were genuinely trying to build their skills? That broke something for me. The integrity was gone. I saw the political machine behind what had once been a deeply personal journey of growth.
And now I’m seeing the same thing—this time, with you.
After your recent Speaking & Influence Summit, I turned to my girlfriend and said, “It felt like both Vishen and Eric couldn’t resist taking repeated jabs at America.” I didn’t show up to be lectured on geopolitics. I came to grow, to learn, to be inspired by people I admire.
And that’s what hurts the most.
Because I DO admire you. You’ve built something extraordinary. So has Eric. But when you start leaning into political sermonizing—especially in the form of open letters—it shifts the tone entirely. What was once a sanctuary for transformation now risks becoming just another platform with an agenda.
Yes, America is flawed. Yes, we’ve made mistakes. So has every nation. But many of the freedoms, innovations, and platforms that now empower the world—including Mindvalley—exist because of what America has contributed and still contributes. The very universities you’re planning to tour with your son? The entrepreneurial ecosystem that helped you build Mindvalley? That’s the America you once believed in.
Until six months ago, it seems.
What changed?
Trump? Let’s be honest—when elites in Europe and America believe the everyday American should continue carrying the weight of their global ambitions while being vilified for daring to push back, someone like Trump becomes inevitable.
One of my favorite movies is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The main character sees what the world would’ve looked like had he never been born—and realizes how deeply he mattered. Sometimes I wonder, what would the world look like if America had never existed?
Some nations would speak entirely different languages. Some wouldn’t exist at all. Countless technologies, medical breakthroughs, and global freedoms simply wouldn’t be here. It’s easy to critique the messiness of today without honoring the foundations that made that critique possible in the first place.
So when I hear lectures on what’s wrong with America—without even a nod to her sacrifices, her resilience, or her role in shaping the modern world—it doesn’t feel like feedback from a concerned friend. It feels like judgment from a disappointed elite outsider who just hates Trump. You mentioned Obama. What did he accomplish for the ordinary American beyond mere words and speeches?
So here’s my ask—not from anger, but from deep respect:
Please don’t let Mindvalley become another echo chamber. Let it remain a place of transformation, not polarization. Don’t let it become what Toastmasters became for me—a place where inspiration was quietly hijacked by politics.
I still believe in you. I still believe in the power of your platform.
But today, I’m grieving a little. Because this isn’t the Mindvalley I signed up for.
Patrick
A proud American
💜🙏💥
Though diminished, all of the good things you speak of about the United States still exist today. The spirit of America exists in the people and they are living in their communities doing the best they can taking care of their families, standing up for their friends and neighbors, and calling their representatives daily or whenever they can. Greed and unquenchable thirst for power have caused our traditional institutions to fail the people. Some representatives listen to their constituents and hold town halls on the issues that are important across both political parties, but many do not. They listen to their corporate donors and wealthy individual donors who only care about fleecing America for their own gains. Too many states have districts that are gerrymandered. For those who don’t know what this is, it’s when district maps are redrawn so one party is favored to win, so candidates are picking the voters and not the other way around. The current administration has a harsh, cruel, and war-mongering agenda. Our representatives, as a whole, aren’t standing up for the people, and the ones who do stand up are few. Corporate money is everywhere – in our elections and they own our media. Legacy media has failed the citizens. Our media is owned by corporations only interested in the news to entertain and not inform so it can distract us from their owners greedy ambitions. The Supreme Court is failing us because they too have been bought by wealthy donors. Corruption is everywhere. Even though things are pretty dire, we the people are standing up. We’re protesting the cruelty we see. The lower courts have been ruling in favor of the people. We’re supporting our friends and neighbors and doing the best we can so the things that are good about the United States can be shared with more than just a few, but with the many because it is and should be “We the people…” and not “We the select few to rule over the people…”