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.
953 Responses
You seem to intimate that spiritual people cannot have a different opinion than yours. I hear what you are saying and I understand and empathize with your comments. However, your statements do not encompass all that is happening in America. Corrections needed to be made so that America can remain the shining light on a hill. I disagree with all extremes that are brash and ugly. Though your statements were made with a kind spirit, many who agree with you fail to communicate in that way, thus obfuscating the message. There are kind, good, spiritual people who embrace many of the changes being made. Your post is divisve while calling for unity. Disparaging while calling for tolerance. Please keep being the beautiful, bright light you are without calling down fire (even if it is with a smile) on those who believe differently. I’ll hold the other side to the same standard.
You’ve clearly lost your way, Vishen.
For someone who talks so much about using your intuition,you have let yourself be sucked into the unreality machine.
You’re not evolved. You’re just another American-hating liberal like many of your instructors, particularly Eric.
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”.
Please do not selfishly hide under a rock.
If your neighbour was being killed, would you tell him to be quiet so you could peacefully finish your Mindvalley course? I don’t think so. It may be painful or inconvenient, but humanity needs you to pay attention and make a stand.
I believe the vast vast majority of approx 8 billion humans share the desire for grace, tolerance and understanding and more than anything the desire to find compromise that creates the space where we can all challenge what we believe so that we can unvail truth, compassion for each other and love.
It’s astounding that we allow a handful of powerful people to create such chaos in the world.
I appreciate your words Vishen…
Consciousness is the way out, but I feel there’s more. Bless the evil deeds so that in return we can have unity and justice. Open your doors as well as your hearts and you will not only defeat the enemy, but you will have evolved into your truest essence of being.
America has to be more than just an idea or business. America must be super glue! Remember 911 for a moment, the meanest and toughest city in the world was destroyed momentarily in 2001. And for the first time ever, it actualized it’s potential. People came together and stopped old patterns of destructive behavior of an egoic mindset and showed the world what unity IS. It took time for it to revert back, so the answer must be something stronger this time. Super glue!
America has to be the core in core values. If not, the future of this planet will perish similar to an Apple infested with microorganisms.
All the money and resources in the world won’t change a miser for he is just that, so let him be. The world needs more people to stand up like you, so I applaud this message as it speaks to hope and the destiny required to overcome the overarching enemy.
Let’s stick together this time and change the culture, FOREVER… Maybe like a two-part epoxy adhesive (had to Google it) 😉
It must have taken real guts and wisdom to write this. Yes America needs to vote mindfully. That’s the call of the planet. The present President is not cutting it at all. Wake up America
America voted mindfully on November 5, 2024
Brother, many of us in America are just as aghast at what’s happening as you and the rest of the world are. Those of us who, in the last three elections, voted for the intelligent, even-keeled candidate. Some of our politicians, and the ultra-rich who back them, are finally getting exactly what they want. They’ve taken money away from education and de-emphasized learning that isn’t geared directly towards getting a job. Liberal arts and soft sciences – those things that show us our humanity and our history – are seen as expendable. Civics classes? Oh, please. Nobody needs that, that’s not going to get you a job! Corporate taxes have been cut so much that companies no longer need to pay their workers more in order to pay less in taxes. Wages don’t keep up with costs, so people need to work more than one job just to stay even. At the end of the day, people are exhausted. Politicians have turned politics into such a shitshow, that everyone has just turned off because they just don’t have the emotional energy for it. And it seems that that is exactly what some politicians wanted to achieve. People don’t understand how government works anymore. They’ve been convinced that government is the problem. People are angry, and government is an easy target for their anger. Then, when you have someone offering scapegoats to the angry, the angry give that person power. And here we are. It’s a slow-motion train wreck. Some of us are trying to pull the brake lever, and others are trying to get the train onto a side track to diminish it’s danger. We’re doing our best, but there’s a sociopath in the Oval Office, and he’s surrounded by sociopaths, and there’s only so much we can do.
It must have taken real guts and wisdom to write this. Yes America needs to vote mindfully. That’s the call of the planet. The present President is not cutting it at all. Wake up America
Vishen! I honor your statement as I truly believe your words speak for so many of us. I live in California and believe in the idea of America too. Though this isn’t the America our forefathers created. I think you know as well as I that there is more going on behind the scenes than we can truly grasp. Our land is precious and absolutely beautiful. As well as our poeple. Yet there is so much confusion right now as to what reality actually is any more. Is it all just a movie we’re paying for to watch it unfold? Or do we actually have the power to change the world together by turning off the news, coming together and rebuilding a world full of magic, love, abundance, and beauty. A global community that thrives together. We need to stop Paying (with our time and energy)$$$ Attention to the bullshit going on and start creating Our new Reality. Joining heads, hearts and Hands globally, and build our castle! I love you all at Mindvalley. This is not simply America or an American problem. It’s Planet that deserves the love and attention of her children coming together as one. Let the clowns entertain themselves.
In gratitude and respect,
Paul Armstrong
Question for Vishen: What would you have said to Hitler – “let’s just be friends?”. Appeasement was tried then, it didn’t work. Nor does it work now. Trump didn’t randomly send rockets to fall on Iran, he directed it specifically on nuclear sites that were a danger for the whole world.
A reminder: Iran targeted and murdered hundreds of American soldiers and civilians throughout the years, with no response from America. Did that help? No, it only empowered them and emboldened them.
Had the western world and the US put a stop to the Ayatollah regime’s murderous intentions years ago, we wouldn’t be at the point we are now.
Vishen, I salute your courage, your honesty, your stand for what is right. So many leaders are hiding right now, afraid of what they might lose, or greedy for what they might gain. You are a true leader. Namaste. George
Good morning, Vishen, and blessings to you for sharing your thoughts openly like this.
I agree with much of what you say. When it comes to the millions of individuals living in this great country, no matter the background, no matter the beliefs, no matter the roots… I believe deep down we all want the same thing… safe, beautiful communities to raise our families… freedom to believe and act as we see best, without infringing on the rights of others… I believe that If I was to sit down for lunch with someone on the opposite side of the “political” spectrum across from me, we could find common ground like this.
I believe it’s the politicians, on both sides, who benefit from keeping us at odds with each other. When you take an honest look at it, regardless of which party has been in power, the path is the same- more taxes, more regulations, less freedom, more wars, more conflict, more division. The methods may be slightly different, but the destination is the same.
I believe anyone who thinks the fault lies 100% with “the other side” will never be part of any solution because they’re only recognizing half of the problem.
That being said… I voted for Trump, and even now, I wouldn’t change it. I’m not here to convince you or defend him, because he’s no “saint” and there are many things about him that I don’t like myself. I voted for him for 3 reasons:
1) I don’t want my 3 children sent off to fight another endless, corrupt war on the other side of the world. If Kamala had been elected, I believe we might have been well on our way to going to war with US troops in Ukraine. Yes, the conflict with Iran concerns me, and I’m praying for a peaceful resolution asap.
2) We have to have order at our border. The media isn’t being un-biased in this regard. Immigration only works when there’s a system with law and order. I have relatives and extended family who waited years and paid thousands of dollars to come here legally from several different countries. There’s a great Ted-Talk on why we can’t just have open borders and unlimited people coming into our country. It will destroy the countries they’re coming from and eventually bankrupt our own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tSqGCfoCI
3) I’m pro-life. I believe we cannot ask for protection and blessing on this great country while at the same time slaughtering millions of our own innocent children on the altar of convenience and irresponsibility.
Those are the main reasons. I understand why people don’t like Trump. But his election is the inevitable result of one side pushing back after being pushed so far themselves the previous 4 years with lockdowns, ridiculous mandates, inflation, “woke” agendas targeting our children, failing schools, etc.
The solution is never going to come from DC… it has to start with the individual and in our own communities… that’s why I love what you’re trying to do… build strong individuals who can have a positive impact on their families and local communities. I was a member for some time, and look to become a member again with MindValley.
One last thought… I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be out of the Paris Treaty. Not a single one of the doomsday prophecies concerning our climate has come to pass. Yes, we need to be good stewards of this beautiful, amazing planet… but is giving more billions in taxes to bureaucrats really going to fix anything? It hasn’t done anything yet, and it’s a little foolish to think that will change. I live in the state with the highest gas taxes in the country, and they’re about to go up even more… and do nothing for the environment.
We need to stop relying on govt to fix our problems. They can’t even balance their own budget. It’s massive over-spending and waste. The real power lies in the individual… the enlightened one, through communities like yours.
Keep up the amazing work! We’re all in this together!
With warmest regards,
Dr. Seth Gambee, DC
Washington State
The only other thing about your
Your voice the issues with great clarity. The question is now what do we actually do… What is the action? Protest in the streets? That will only bring out the army vote for new leaders. We can only hope that the money doesn’t buy the boats I would like to see from you concrete action… Of course it’s consciousness, of course it’s mindset, of course it’s values. What we need now though is someone who can be very clear as to the actions that are necessary. Meanwhile, thank you for your great insights!
Hi Vishen
As an ex Zimbabwean now living in a failing South Africa I am saddened by this.
We had an excellent Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith who had a big vision for Zimbabwe only to be sold down the river by America and the Uk.
Take car and thanks again.
Dear Vishen, I don’t think you used AI to write this. It came from your heart, soul, deep concern, and eloquence. I resonate with every word. I want all Americans to read this and feel its truth. Thank you for your courage and caring!
An Open Reply to Vishen and Mindvalley
From a Daughter of the Republic, Still Standing in Her Sovereignty
Dear Vishen,
I appreciate the love and admiration you’ve held for America over the years. Your journey from studying here to founding Mindvalley is a testament to the possibility this nation offers. And yes, America has always been more than a piece of land. It is a frequency. But unlike your letter suggests, that frequency has not been lost — it’s been deliberately jammed by global interests, media manipulation, and the loudest voices with the least loyalty to her soul.
You say you “can no longer stay silent,” so let me gently say: neither can we.
As an American woman, a patriot, and someone who has both lived abroad and seen this nation’s brokenness and brilliance, I offer this not as an attack, but as a necessary correction. Because it’s easy to romanticize a country from the outside. It’s another thing entirely to live within her borders during a time when over 20 million undocumented immigrants have crossed those borders in under four years — unvetted, unsupported, and placing unprecedented strain on our schools, hospitals, and cities. It’s not xenophobia to want security. It’s not cruelty to call for order. It’s sovereignty.
While you speak of unity, you omit the burnings of American businesses, riots labeled as “mostly peaceful,” the suppression of free speech in the name of safety, and a media-industrial complex that parrots only one side. While you speak of division, you omit how that division was seeded — not by Trump alone, but by unelected bureaucrats, corporate-funded NGOs, and a previous administration that lied repeatedly about everything from Russian collusion to COVID origins.
You speak of NATO — but fail to mention how little many member nations contribute, or how American taxpayers have footed the bill while being vilified. You speak of climate accords, but not how countries like China and India continue to pollute while the U.S. is demonized despite reducing emissions more than most. You speak of “bombs over Iran,” but omit the reality of a world that is more unstable under weak leadership — not strong.
And perhaps most disheartening of all, you speak of elections and ego without naming the unprecedented censorship, intelligence manipulation, and blatant media bias that shaped public perception — not truth — in 2020 and beyond.
Yes, America is flawed. But she is also awake. We are not perfect, but we are not the caricature being peddled to the global community.
You want us to be elders, not emperors? I agree.
And true elders do not bend to guilt or global gaslighting. They rise rooted in truth — even when it’s uncomfortable.
The America I believe in does stand for something. For freedom. For the sovereignty of its people — not globalism dressed as spiritual unity. For law and order — not lawlessness disguised as compassion. For service — not subjugation to an unelected elite who wish to erase her borders, her culture, and her voice.
So yes, let’s vote with heart.
Let’s vote not for the polished phrases and staged speeches.
Let’s vote for the leaders who may not be perfect, but who remember that a country without borders, truth, or courage is not a country at all — just a fading idea.
You asked, “What happened to service?”
We are here. Still standing. Still serving. And no, we won’t be silent.
With love, discernment, and unwavering faith in the American Spirit,
— A Citizen Who Still Believes in the Republic
Laughable.
Completely agree. Well said.
Unfortunately, Vishen writes without any historic perspective. Look at the appeasement tried with Hitler and learn re Iran. Look at the anti-semitism atrocities within US academia and take off the rose-colored glasses.
Thanks for your heartfelt letter Vishen. We appreciate hearing your thoughts about what’s going on. The world needs anyone with a voice to stand up and talk right now. We need the hopeful and gentle voices, the angry voices and anyone with a platform to start talking about this. May the global conversation be so loud that it cannot be ignored.
I encourage everyone to write to their local ministers. We must be loud and remember that “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”. Together our voices have power.
If America can’t be the lighthouse right now, I hope we can all light the way instead. Thanks for posting this, it’s a brave thing to speak up.
Thank you for posting this letter, Vishen. As an American who has been in the fight leading up to the election and ever since, I hear and see you. This is harder than anything I have ever gone through. Our voices are being muffled and our opinions ignored by our elected officials. Speaking truth to those who cannot or will not hear is exhausting. Yet, still we hold the vision of what we know the United States to be. We know our soul, our heart, our dreams of what could be. I have been in the streets for every march. I will continue to be until this is over. Some times, like this week in particular, it is so hard to believe that we will get through this. But we are as tenacious as our hearts are loving. Thank you for your support. I hope your reach awakens many more who might have preferred to stay on the quiet sidelines. There is no sideline right now. We must all stand for the ideals of this country.
Hi Vishen,
Your words felt honest and bold — like something a true friend would write out of love and deep care.
As a Canadian who has visited the U.S. every year, I felt this resonate in my heart as I much love our neighbours. I see myself first as a human being, and I’ve always struggled with anything that creates unnecessary division.
This letter reminded me that everyone needs moments to pause, reflect, and realign with what matters most.
Thank you for writing something that invites reflection and reminds us of our shared humanity. I carry it with hope.
Solid assessment. The US has become tribal and hateful. Our leader leads with the goals of personal adoration, wealth creation and delivering pain to adversaries. Presidents used to unify. This one divides.
I work with immigrants who are some of the nicest, hardest working people who live here. Not criminals. Some people learn through education and inspiration. Others learn through pain and punishment. The US will learn through pain unfortunately.