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.
950 Responses
Hello friend, working on it. No fear, just vision thanks to you
I’m going 100% Europe. Still corrupted and imperfect… but it has some respect for its citizens.
Let’s make Europe great… er 😊.
Hello friend, working on it. No fear, just vision thanks to you
I’m going 100% Europe. Still corrupted and imperfect… but it has some respect for its citizens.
Let’s make Europe great… er 😊.
Very good reflection on today’s world’s situation.
As a world citizen I am deeply saddened about all of this.
I wish Trump would have listened to Michael Jackson when he sang:
“I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change”
Unfortunately he will never change.
But there is hope: a lot of mediums state that he will no longer be in power in 2027 (without revealing the details).
Let’s hope they are right.
This is exactly how I feel about this situation! Thanks, Vishen! You spoke from all of our Souls
Is this fake? Not sure if this was inaccurately generated and sent, seems out of character. What was written —It’s an interesting perspective, I see different. I can also appreciate the current chaos. I think it’s needed to get to a better place to where we are all aiming to be. I am proud for the American nation, I am proud to be American. To be part of all the courage it takes to get through the chaos, to come through arriving at a better place on the other end of it all -because of it ALLLLLL. We are going through it, not just the good parts…we’re storming right through the messy too. That’s where we are at, and that’s ok. It’s our freedoms that allow us the ability to expand and the messy chaos is part of the process. Let us get there while you point the finger, that’s ok too ..because that’s also expected in the path of expansion. We are going to come out of this greater than before. I am so happy to be an American and to be here right now through the thick of of it all expanding to more. I love where we are going. We are continuing and always will be expanding to a better place of the American Dream! <3
The success of Mind Valley as a global community of change-makers, those of us seeking to make the world a better place, starting with ourselves, places Vishen in a unique position to be of influence. I am heartened to see the Letter to America, not only for its content, but because for me as Mind Valley devotee is started to feel like there was something important NOT being said.
What is happening in, to, from, with, because of the US (all of the prepositions) impacts us all. Let this be a clarion call to those of us for whom compassion is key. Progress is not linear. It cannot be assumed. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are noble aspirations which align perfectly with Mind Valley. But a Constitution is but paper if it is not protected, lived and breathed. That which we value we must curate.
Love the discussion you are creating Vishen! We definitely need more open and respectful discussion of important issues. My take on your letter is that it oversimplifies things to make your point.
The bombing of Iran’s nuclear program was in large part due to Iranian leaders, including Khomeini, Khamenei, and others, repeatedly making extremely hostile statements about Israel’s existence, calling for the end of the “Zionist regime” and supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran has officially claimed that its nuclear program is peaceful and says it has no intention to build nuclear weapons, but its actions show otherwise.
Over the years, some Iranian military and political figures have made fiery remarks that could be interpreted as threatening Israel if Iran were to ever have nuclear capabilities. Some have talked about Israel being “wiped off the map” (this quote is often associated with Ahmadinejad, Iran’s former president, though the translation is debated).
Khamenei, for example, in 2015 tweeted a graphic plan called “9 key questions about the elimination of Israel” where he called for a referendum to eliminate Israel — but emphasized that nuclear war or mass slaughter would not be the means.
United States pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement because of its unfairness, not because it doesn’t want to stop climate change.
It limits the USA’s abiltiy to use its own natural resources and hurts the U.S. economy, while helping economies like Russia and China, which have few limits.
Trump said the agreement imposed “draconian financial and economic burdens” on the United States, while allowing developing nations to continue growing emissions.
Paris relies on voluntary, non-binding commitments (“nationally determined contributions” or NDCs).
Countries like Russia (and China) can:
Set weaker targets.
Move slowly in meeting them.
Continue to export fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, the U.S. tends to impose stricter rules on itself through domestic legislation and regulations.
Critics argue that this creates an asymmetrical burden:
The U.S. sacrifices growth and energy security.
Competitors exploit loopholes or simply do less.
As for immigration, the most successful countries have strict immigration requirements so that they can govern effectively, and those immigration requirements need to be humanely enforced. Switzerland is a great example of this. More developed countries should help less developed countries by providing their residents with knowledge and resources so they will want to stay in their own countries and make their gardens bloom where they are. A great example of this is the huge impact YouTube is having on Africa by teaching its residents how to do anything they want to do.
First, I want to thank you for posting about this—twice now. It matters deeply, and I wish more leaders had the courage to do the same. The personal is political, and the impact of doing the right thing reaches far beyond the bottom line that so many seem to worship these days.
I’m also so sorry that you and your team will likely have to wade through a flood of mean-spirited, poorly worded, conspiracy-laden responses. I know how frustrating and disheartening that can be. So let me say “thank you” again—because I’m sure you knew the backlash would come, and you chose to speak up anyway. That’s courage. That’s leadership.
I don’t know you personally, but if I did, I’d tell you I’m proud of you—and give you a big hug. (Even strong people and visionary leaders appreciate encouragement sometimes!) Professionally and anonymously, I’ll say this: I admire your decision, and I admire your work. This is what integrity looks like.
I look forward to seeing more of it reflected in the world as more people align with morality, empathy, and the courage to care—about others, about justice, and about building a future where abundance, integrity, and compassion coexist.
Massive props—and massive respect—to you and your incredible team of world-changers.
I choose:
evolution instead of ego
destiny instead of Division
future instead of Division
Your SEO strategy is working — but so are peoples discernment, thank goodness!
I’ve followed your work for a long time and have always appreciated your teachings around consciousness and growth. That’s why I was surprised — and honestly a bit disappointed — by this letter.
While I can see it comes from a place of care, it felt very political and emotionally loaded. Instead of calling people higher, it came across as pushing one side’s view while dismissing others. That’s not what I come to Mindvalley for.
Many of us look to your platform to rise above fear, division, and control — not to be pulled into more of it. Consciousness should make room for different opinions, not shame people into one “right” path.
I say this with respect, but also honesty. You have a powerful voice — please use it to unite, not divide.
Just sharing this as someone who still believes in what you can stand for, when you stay aligned with your core message.
Beautifully said Vishen. Thank you for this 🙏
I believe this type of posturing is called selective gratitude — enjoying the freedoms, market access, and wealth creation opportunities that the U.S. uniquely provides, while turning around and positioning yourself as morally superior by criticizing the very place your success began. It’s even more amplified in Vishen’s case because Mindvalley brands itself as a global, conscious, transformational movement — yet behind the spiritual buzzwords, it’s still a for-profit empire built largely through Western capitalist structures, with a significant portion of its audience and revenue coming from Americans.
I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with building a successful business or making a profit — in fact, that’s something many of us aspire to. But it’s incredibly hypocritical to criticize others for having similar ambitions while enjoying all the perks, freedom, affluence, and influence that success brings.
I use to love Mindvalley; I just don’t care for its “King” anymore.
Thank you Vishen! I appreciate your candid and open letter to the American people. Many people are hurt and based on their experience will shape their response. I’m happy you shared your opinion, some may disagree that this is the right platform, but as a leader and visionary it shows strength and courage. It’s also your platform! You show diversity in your presenters and they show love and compassion! Mindvalley is an amazing product, filled with hope!
Speak your truth – I’m listening!
Hello Vishen
You have walked the line as it might have been said in the past – and I thank you for doing so! We are a fractured world, when sadly we have so many reasons not to be!
Well done for putting it out there, I do think however that many in the US (although the name itself is also under threat – the states do not seem united at all, perhaps FS – fractured states is more apt these days) may violently disagree with you and would find it very difficult to see your rhetoric, whereas many globally concur wholeheartedly.
It is a difficult state of global affairs and I wish there was an easy solution, although open conversation is a good place to start.
While I stand with you on much of what you wrote, I loved through the 60’s here in this country. We had our problems there as well. We had organized crime in our government and later under Clinton, we had Citizens United. This act allowed business entities to vote and that further corrupted or representation.
You wonder how people could vote for a felon, who led the 2016 circus of presidency. Check history of the Nazi regime. You will find the same pattern. Chaos generating disbelief in anything, the play book is unmistakable, and the sadness is that history is repeating. 5 million people protested in April. 2% of the total USA population protested.
Republicans are passing a budget to fund ICE to build private prisons in every state.
Vote, yes, we will vote. Will the voting machines be tampered? Were they tampered in this past election? Who knows, what matters is Steven Miller’s project 2025. Having read it, I am watching it unfold. We know we are in deep trouble especially now that convicted criminals head every department.
Thanks for standing with us as we stand together, in our protests. We will write a plan, personally I have pressured every democratic representative to develop a plan. We need to redefine how we are governed since our 2 party system is simply shades of gray, leaving out workers, and enforcement of justice.
The fight is on to reduce the damage Musk has done, an an unelected major political force, and the damage the billionaires are doing to our country. So you are welcome to join the fight.
Thank you Suzanne!!
Thank You for sharing Your thoughts and worries Vishen. So powerful, so true and so respectable to stand up and voice the thoughts many of us are thinking. Standing ovations!!!
We are together 🤗🧡 Thank you Vishen 🙏🙏🙏🧡🧡🧡
Wonderfully written and true to the fact What America Stands for was… Appreciate the initiative to voice your concerns as the citizen of this Earth Mother. Believe that we all need to stand for the peace .
What a bizarre rambling screed against the current political party that won a fair election.
You ignore every evil in the world to concentrate your biased views against the majority of America.
Nothing said against the Islamic barbarians set on enslaving the world.
Nothing said against Russia invading and killing in Ukraine.
Nothing said against the many thousands of illegals who rape, kill, rob, and assault American citizens.
You have taken your hidden prejudices and put them in public view.
Get lost.
It’s always revealing when accusations of bias are paired with talking points that ignore actual data.
If we’re discussing crime, it’s worth noting that native-born citizens commit more violent crimes than undocumented immigrants, according to decades of research from sources including the Cato Institute and multiple DOJ analyses. Yet the narrative often ignores this, focusing instead on anecdotal fear to stoke division.
Similarly, while concerns about extremist violence abroad are valid, the leading domestic terror threat in the U.S. is white supremacist violence, as repeatedly confirmed by the FBI and DHS. That reality often gets overlooked by those who claim to oppose “evil” but are selectively outraged depending on the perpetrator.
As for elections and policy critiques: holding our own leaders accountable is not unpatriotic—it’s essential. Many of us are capable of condemning authoritarianism abroad and harmful political behavior at home. It’s not an either/or.
If we want a meaningful national conversation, it has to be based on facts, not recycled fear and double standards.
K, excellent points, all. I have yet to see a single post by anyone supporting the current administration that actually cites credible sources that aren’t hearsay.
You had an opportunity to serve and show signs of unity but rather mis-hit and redirect your point to more hate.
Sadly I concur with your assessment of this divisive post by Vishen. I hope you are listening Vishen to the fact that you are creating more of the polarization rather than using your principles for oneness.
💯 never expected this from Mindvalley. I was good until you quoted Barack Obama he did more killing and bomb dropping than any other President. Please don’t be political. This tarnishes what you stand for and the light you put into the world. Just be the light. Don’t get in the mud with the politicians.
Just wondering how you found your way into this community?