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
Vishen, I read your words with mixed feelings. On the one hand, everything you say rings true and pulls at my heart-strings almost as much as our new reality angers, frustrates, and saddens me. On the other hand, you fail to acknowledge that you are part of the problem. Our new reality did not suddenly spring upon us on January 20th. It has evolved over time. Sixty years ago, the trend was toward love, peace, harmony, and examining our spiritual make-up. Over the years, technology advanced and trends shifted.
Twenty years ago, for many dreamers at the bottom of the financial totem pole, the internet leveled the playing field – or so we were told by “gurus” who had courses and software to sell us. And what did they teach us? They taught us that the primary goal of any endeavor was to make money. Deception was always a big part of the game. The gurus didn’t even use their real names. They devised ways to deceive the search engines, and they wrote copy to deceive the prospects. The online money-making world merged with the personal development world. When “The Secret” was released, the message that it sent was that the primary goal of developing yourself socially, spiritually, or whatever, was to accumulate an abundance of money. Personal development coaches became online money making teachers and vice versa.
The Silva Method – a method for high achievement and self-awareness – was developed 60 years ago when the trends were toward peace, love,and harmony. Less than 20 years ago, the format and purpose of the Silva Method was revised to fit the times. It has been marketed along with other iconic personal development methods as a way to get yourself on a path to riches and wealth. (I lost my access to the original online version of The Silva Method when MindValley took over.)
It should come as no surprise that politicians keep their eyes pealed on money and power, even at the expense of their constituents’ health and well-being. Advancement of technology, along with collective deteriorization of our values, has led to the emergence of one man, who has been convicted of fraud as well as adjudicated as a sexual predator, who is completely unrestrained by morals, to be sent to the White House, to reak havoc on our country and on the American Dream
Dear Vishen,
Thank you for your vision of neutrality, peace and justice balanced with compassion.
I believe in a neutral, centrist perspective that avoids political extremes. With the heart of a peacemaker and healer, I cherish and promote the well-being of my family, patients, neighbors and community members who I have been blessed to love and serve throughout my life. As a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that the Last Days will be identified by turmoil and strife; yet, those of us who watch and wait for The Prince of Peace will not be disappointed. In my mind and heart, there should be no contentions, divisions, destruction or domination of any kind among the Children of God, regardless of our religious affiliations. But rather a simple quest and sacred commitment to follow the Teachings and Example of Jesus Christ’s Ministry and thus secure our place as a Disciple of Christ and achieve the Divine potential of each Son or Daughter of God.
Beautiful! My sentiments spoken better than I could. As an American at midlife it’s hard to watch. I never thought I’d see the day but here we are. It may not be an empire that falls, but it’s certainly the empire mindset needing to be pierced at this moment while recovering the heart of a nation which finds itself reeling. It hard to see how this mindset is sustainable with a downside being, how does it end. I continue to trust and have faith in the unknown as it unfolds.
While I appreciate and am grateful for Mindvalley and all I have learned in my journey to remember who I am.
I am disappointed…reading your open letter felt like the familiar news articles and news broadcasts from my 30 years in politics. Articles and broadcasts which skewed the truths to continue the corruption in America.
I will be voting with Trump…so that he continues his purpose to open our eyes to the sugar coated venom in the main stream media.
With love, respect, empathy, forgiveness and may the world be free from suffering.
L
Maybe expect more from your own country, and less from ours.
Vishen,
I have been involved in Mindvalley since 2017, and have benefitted greatly. Right when the first membership became available, I jumped on it after tracking the amount of value there and wanting to buy a number of courses.
I also went to the 7th Bio hacking conference as a VIP in hopes to see you- (but Covid happened)
This being said, I have a lot of respect for you and have benefitted from 6 phase meditation with hundreds of listens, as well as Silva method, Be extraordinary, and other programs/De-programs 🙂.
I appreciate how you kept the tone of this whole letter even-keeled and calm. So often these days, people convey more stress and anger than they do compassion and kindness. I was able to peacefully read your whole post and while there are parts I personally disagree with, I can totally understand your perspective and I really do appreciate your heart behind it and your honesty. I am also on the side of compassion, opportunity, and freedom, and I agree the greats of the past should be highlighted better as examples for what we can aim to be like. (I love your Steve Jobs profile pose)!
There are so many complexities to the political system and I have witnessed we are not dealing with good vs. evil candidates. America voted the way they did for many reasons, including the economy, safety, and the hope for flourishing again. I don’t think abortion as a virtue was able to sell the majority of the voter base. The issue around affectiveness of support to the underserved to be addressed by the private sector or through policies is still working itself out, but I am encouraged personally by initiatives I see and am a part of through certain non-profits.
While I have mixed feelings of the decision to bomb the nuclear production facilities in Iran, and with Israel taking out scientists, I cannot speak with full authority because I know there are variables above my understanding. Whatever happens, even if we have a new global order headed by the wef or other structure, I have to trust God our creator has a plan and is above all, working things for our good. He is my rock and my hope in life or death, so I can live with this faith, hope, and love-knowing we are so loved. Though there are hardships all around us, all we can do in our sphere of influence is love others. (And I am learning to continually expand my sphere through your visualizations as well).
I hope this appreciation is well received, and much love to you, brother!
I found the virtue signaling nauseating. TDS is strong in you.
At this point cancel my MindValley Membership
FYI I could not figure out how to do it on the website
Can you get yourself on Fox News with this letter, Vishen? Please! Maybe you could change some minds. Keep putting this out there!
Dear Vishen, i couldn’t have said it better. You speak to my Soul. Thank you so much. I just can hope the right people read this words and feel the same. We need people in the first rows of each country in the world who serve their country not to rule like kings. We really need to live all together on this world in harmony, peace and love. I was in some countries where the people and the country was so beautiful (for example Israel and Turkey), but the leaders of the country are horrible. These countries deserves so much better. Greetings and love to America and the whole world from South Germany.
Thank God for our President Trump who will protect America and therefore America will survive. He has the intestinal fortitude to do what is necessary for true Americans to live. Do not be shallow and listen to liberal propaganda. Be intelligent enough to go beyond the surface news to see the deeper issues and how they need to be handled to preserve this republic!
Hi Vishen,
Thank you for your thoughts. I have long since suspected that Mindvalley is a woke company and have not let that stop me from appreciating the stellar work that you do and what you offer to the world.
Having said that, I don’t understand how someone with your intelligence and insight can not see where we and the world are at right now and who has been working to drive us into the abyss.
Everyone on the left said Trump was a dictator but it’s the Dems who have not allowed the voice of the people. Especially here in California we are suffering from policies that are outright deadly to us.
The only reason why illegal immigrants are treated like gods – even criminal ones – here is that they are leftist voters.
I am guessing that you are a billionaire by now and are well insulated from feeling the effects of the insane gas or food prices – housing! – but you have to be able to see what has become of our beloved beautiful cities? Have you walked around in San Francisco recently?
Here in my town, not so far from SF, everything is being destroyed!
The so very green and environmentally conscious left city ‘rulers’ are now chopping down a whole square full of heritage trees because they need another project to rip off the people and pocket bribe money.
You can see it if your eyes are open.
Yours are obviously not.
I hope that changes soon.
In Silva we are working for the good of the people, with our hearts and minds. What is currently happening in California is the exact opposite.
All this while Preside Trump is establishing peace in the world.
Have you heard of the ceasefire? Do you understand the strategies at work there?
I don’t believe you do.
President Trump is working all the hours of the day FOR FREE (on top of donating things to the country) sacrificing a billionaire lifestyle for us – and the rest of the world.
But you believe in NATO, who has been breaking treaties, probably the power grabbing WHO as well?
The Paris Accord, environmental groups full of people. who travel to climate conferences in planes (with their limos inside!), where they gorge themselves on expensive top quality beef while telling ‘us peasants’ to eat bugs.
How about 15 minute cities? Someone like you would probably be able to buy expensive permits that would allow you to travel, visit your children or parents but many would not.
I really don’t see how anyone with even a minor degree of intelligence cannot see the contradiction and the hypocrisy there but one thing is clear – you are lacking the deeper understanding and the higher vision of what’s been going on.
Have you never wondered why in California we have wildfires that burn exactly the land that those people have their eyes on? It’s Newsom and the likes of him, his puppet masters, that are burning us alive. He has mismanaged our forests to a criminal degree.
We have a high speed rail project that has cost billions and has what, 10 miles of track built? From nowhere to nowhere!
We do we have homelessness skyrocketing? Because it helps the left agenda.
Our power company has had SIX rate increases over the last year while having outages all the time. A seventh one has already been approved.
How is Fentanyl coming into our cities, and our schools now, killing masses? I’ll just leave that here…
What about Lahaina?
In our area here we’ve had suspicious fires too. Out of almost 1000 structures burnt less than 100 have been getting permits to rebuild. WHY?
Why are homeowners losing their insurance policies all over?
Why did none of the Dems go to NC after the hurricanes to help but they all went running to support Abrego Garcia, a convicted criminal? Have you noticed how criminals are getting passes while good righteous people are receiving outrageous sentences?
I am deeply questioning the wisdom of following your courses now.
It’s still all about $$$ and manipulation, isn’t it…
My conclusion from reading your post full of wonderful deep heartfelt sentiment is this: The Left have been very good at tugging at the heartstrings, turning noble concepts into their opposites and misguiding people.
Compassion apparently is high – but only for dangerous criminals, not for the regular Joe Blow who goes to work every day struggling to raise his family in the hostile conditions that have been created in decades of Dem rule (in California and other key states).
To put it in a nutshell: You’re running with a bad crowd.
Thank you for pulling this message together, Vishen. These are my feelings 100% – I love this country and remain hopeful but have never been more worried about the future. It has motivated me to speak up in support of my fellow human and against the misinformation and negativity. Thank you for doing so here with clarity and compassion!
ZINGstory Blessing Inspired By An Open Letter To America by Vishen: “Living the Vision, Embodying the Legacy”
(Read every word out loud and feel a ZING of pure positive energy wash over your body bypassing the inner critic that says; “this isn’t me/us yet”. Instead, bath in this ‘already happened’ energy and feel the pure joy and connection. Read it out loud when you want to feel good. ZINGstories aren’t meant to fix anything, just to feel the flow of pure positive joy.
They already lived the vision.
They already radiated inspiration, standing tall on a strong foundation, fully enjoying the ripple effects of a winning legacy.
They continuously embodied the highest frequency of creativity, compassion, and conscious leadership. Their influence stretched effortlessly across communities, industries, and nations.
They ignited collective dreams, nurtured innovation, and cultivated global collaboration.
They amplified what worked, celebrated what united, and uplifted what healed.
They fully enjoyed meaningful friendships, vibrant collaborations, and joyful gatherings that expanded their reach and deepened their purpose.
Their voice shaped conversations that inspired action. Their work became a beacon, drawing in those ready to align with wisdom, service, and love.
They effortlessly created movements that guided others to remember their own light, their own power, their own contribution to the shared vision of a thriving, compassionate world.
They lived in the flow of service, success, and synchronicity, where global transformation and personal fulfillment danced together.
They embodied the America the world still believed in — innovative, generous, united, and brilliantly alive.
They enjoyed the ease of building bridges, the joy of creative mastery, and the satisfaction of a life fully expressed.
Their legacy continued to inspire, uplift, and ZING.
So be it, and so it was.
(This has been added to a larger collection of ZINGstories including inspirations from “I have a dream”, “The Constitution Of The United States, A late Pope’s letter to a current president… to help the reticular activating system align with what feels good bypassingthe inner critic. )
you spoke on behalf of our hearts and minds, thank you dear Vishen, “We must never remain silent in the face of injustice.” – Barack Obama
To the People of the United States,
In a world that looks to America for leadership, courage, and moral clarity, we must ask ourselves: Are we living up to the values we so proudly proclaim?
Today, in Gaza, over 55,000 lives have been lost, and hundreds of thousands more are displaced, starving, and suffering. Children are dying not from disease or disaster, but from hunger, airstrikes, and the denial of basic human dignity. Hospitals are collapsing, humanitarian aid is being blocked, and families are being torn apart in real time.
This is not just a tragedy—it is a test of our humanity.
Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity.
Let us remember that justice is not a partisan issue. It is a human one. The values of compassion, dignity, and the right to life must guide our actions—not just in words, but in deeds.
America, let this be your North Star.
Speak out. Demand accountability. Call for a ceasefire. Support humanitarian access. And above all, refuse to look away.
Because history will remember not only what was done—but who stood silent while it happened.
Haifa
I’m with you Vishen!
I hope your message Inspires all, especially those of us that share this vision of unity and love and have become disheartened and given up.
We must stand united for divided we fall. We can not forget that love is the strongest force in universe.
Vishen, thanks for your letter, you are an inspiration for me. In my country, Argentina, something similar is happening. It is so sad to see how government destroy all the good. Thank you for your support.
Thank you Vishen for using your platform to share wisdom. Your words are truth. It is a sham and a shame what we have created in our country, and by extension for your country and the world. I’m ashamed for us. Embarrassed to go abroad these days. Scared for all of us. Flabbergasted that many of my dearest friends and family members don’t see what they have helped create by voting for this monster. I’m shaking my head, practicing tonglen (Tibetan compassion meditation) and painting for peace. Here in Crestone, Colorado (you should visit one day – I have a feeling you would connect with the energies here) we are broadcasting peace for the planet and love to all. And wisdom. God please may wisdom dawn soon.
Nicely said Vishen ! America is my neighbor , hence I don’t long for the American dream like you . I have crossed the boarder all my life either vacationing , studying , working , shopping etc. However I hear you !
Almost moved to California and or Florida to pursue my professional dream however my lovely dream was abruptly changed due to family reasons. They say things happen for a reason.
you are completely right about the American dream for so many people. Now, most Canadians don’t even want to cross the border anymore. We don’t want to buy American products. I never thought I would live this. Its unreal. And most of all , we are not for sale.
I’m glad that you took the time to share this message. It’s an heartfelt message.
one thing we all share is hope! 🙏🏻
💚 🇨🇦 🇮🇪
Globalist nonsense, sorry for you.
Sadly, I think the people who need this message the most are not the type of people who would ever read it. Half of us (Americans) have been horrified since the election results, if not since the hateful man announced candidacy. It’s been extremely difficult for the people with heart who care about the planet, about each other, about peace and the kind of future we wanted to have, to witness the systematic destruction of our civil liberties and everything our ancestors fought for and stood for over the last 200 years.
I’d definitely prefer to see a hero in office instead of a villain.
I very much appreciate your words. It’s nice to hear kind words, especially when our leaders are behaving so poorly. Sadly, those who need to read and understand your words will never see them. I believe the majority of Americans never wanted the America we now have, however I have friends and relatives who were duped by the constant barrage of misinformation and false narratives, and used their vote to empower those who wish to destroy our democracy. However, given how the situation is unfolding, many who have been asleep or simply watching from the sidelines are becoming aware our democracy is seriously under attack. I hope our democracy will survive, though our standing in the world has been forever tarnished.