This newsletter is going to be different.
Whether you love him, hate him, or just enjoy the spectacle, there’s no denying that Donald Trump is one of the most fascinating figures in modern history. He’s not just a politician. He’s a brand, a movement, a force of nature.
And if you strip away the noise—the politics, the scandals, the larger-than-life persona—you’re left with something undeniably interesting: a personal growth strategy that has propelled him from real estate mogul to reality TV star to President of the United States… and back to the political arena again.
Now, before you throw your phone across the room or start composing an angry tweet, let me be clear: this is NOT an endorsement or a takedown. This is an exploration. A deep dive into the four rules that have shaped Trump’s worldview and, in turn, his success.
So let’s step back from politics for a moment.
What if, instead of judging, we simply observed? What if we looked at Trump—not as a politician—but as a case study in personal growth, influence, and the psychology of success?
What if we examined his mindset?
Because here’s the truth: The man has defied every expectation, broken every rule of conventional leadership, and still remains one of the most influential figures on the planet. He has lost and won, been written off and resurrected, faced scandals and indictments—and yet, his grip on his followers is unshakable.
So, what’s his secret?
What guiding principles have shaped him into the force he is today?
And perhaps most importantly—is there anything we can learn from them?
Visiting Mar-a-Lago & the movie The Apprentice
I got a firsthand glimpse into Trump’s world when I was invited to Mar-a-Lago a few months ago. I also have friends who have worked with him, been in meetings with him, and even done business deals with him. The insights they’ve shared with me paint a fascinating picture.
But what really sparked this letter was watching the film The Apprentice. The movie explores Trump’s relationship with the infamous American lawyer Roy Cohn, a man who once defended the mafia and was an ally of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the communist Red Scare in America.
The acting in the film was phenomenal— and the actors Sebastian Stan as Trump, Jeremy Strong as Cohn delivered Oscar-worthy performances.
But what struck me the most about the movie wasn’t just the acting—it was how it depicted Trump’s evolution. It showed his transformation from an eager, sweet, and somewhat naïve young man into the relentless, larger-than-life force he eventually became.
At the heart of it all were three laws that Roy Cohn imparted to Trump. These three rules—plus a fourth one that I picked up from reading The Art of the Deal years ago—form the foundation of Trump’s personal growth philosophy.
Are you ready? Buckle up.
Who was Roy Cohn?
To understand Trump’s personal growth philosophy, you need to understand Roy Cohn. If Trump is the ultimate showman-turned-politician, Cohn was the mastermind behind the curtain.
Cohn first rose to prominence as Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel during the infamous Red Scare, where he helped orchestrate the anti-communist witch hunts of the 1950s. He was ruthless, unapologetic, and had a simple rule—never admit defeat, never apologize, and always attack.
When McCarthy fell from grace, Cohn reinvented himself as a power broker in New York, working as a mob lawyer and rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful. It was during this time that he became Donald Trump’s mentor.
Cohn taught Trump how to weaponize the legal system, how to manipulate the press, and—most importantly—how to create an untouchable personal brand. He wasn’t just Trump’s lawyer; he was his strategist, consigliere, and attack dog all rolled into one.
Cohn had three ironclad rules. Rules that Trump absorbed like a sponge.
- Attack, attack, attack
- Admit nothing, deny everything
- Always claim victory
And then, years later, Trump added his own fourth rule—one that would become his ultimate superpower.
- Relentless optimism
These four rules became the foundation of Trump’s personal philosophy. And whether you agree with them or not, you can’t deny their impact.
Ironically, Cohn’s own downfall mirrored the tactics he taught Trump. In 1986, he was disbarred for unethical conduct—fraud, perjury, and unethical business practices. His response? Complete denial. Even as his career crumbled, he insisted he was the victim of a political conspiracy.
Trump absorbed all of this. And even after Cohn’s death from AIDS in 1986, his influence lived on in Trump’s philosophy of power and survival.
In the movie The Apprentice, it’s suggested that Cohn mentored Trump and asked him to follow the following 3 Rules of Life.
Rule #1: Attack, attack, attack
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu wrote:
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
In other words: Never play defense. Always strike first.
This was Roy Cohn’s number one rule, and Trump didn’t just adopt it—he made it his core philosophy.
If you observe Trump’s career, you’ll see one pattern repeating over and over again: He never waits for an attack. He preempts it. He overwhelms. He escalates. He turns every battle into a scorched-earth war.
I had a fascinating conversation about this with Richard Branson on Necker Island in September 2024. Branson—who has been quite vocal about his distaste for Trump—shared something revealing.
During the 2016 elections, both Trump and Hillary Clinton invited him to separate meetings.
When he sat down with Hillary, she spoke about governance, strategy, innovation, and policy.
When he met with Trump? The entire conversation was about revenge.
Trump listed people who had wronged him, one by one, and described exactly how he planned to destroy them.
Branson walked out of that meeting shaken.
He had never met someone so singularly obsessed with retaliation.
But here’s the thing: It worked.
Trump’s relentless attacks obliterated his political rivals. In 2016, one by one, every Republican candidate who stood in his way was demolished.
This isn’t just politics. This is branding warfare.
Robert Greene, in The 48 Laws of Power, puts it this way:
“Crush your enemy totally.”
Trump doesn’t just defeat opponents. He erases them from relevance.
But what about those who stand with him?
That’s a different story.
At Mar-a-Lago, I saw this firsthand.
I had been invited to a private dinner for an incoming governor in March 2024. The attendees were some of the most politically influential people in America. And while I didn’t necessarily share their political views, I found them to be polite, warm, and genuinely kind individuals.
But the conversations? Fascinating.
One person confidently told me that 350,000 Chinese operatives had crossed the U.S. border and were waiting for China’s signal to attack America.
Another person claimed that two million terrorists were currently hiding within the United States.
Someone else insisted that Biden wasn’t actually running the country—that Barack Obama was secretly in charge, funded by George Soros.
Now, let’s be clear—I don’t think these beliefs hold up under objective scrutiny.
But what struck me was this: These weren’t angry, aggressive conspiracy theorists. They were polite, rational, and open to discussion.
When I questioned some of their claims, they listened. No tension. No fights. Just discussion.
And then, Trump walked in.
The energy in the room shifted instantly.
I have only seen a handful of people who radiate this level of charisma in person. The Dalai Lama is one of them.
As he greeted the crowd, he pointed at us and said:
“I love you!”
The room exploded.
“We love you, Mr. President!”
“We’re with you till the end!”
It was a level of loyalty that is extremely rare for any leader.
Regardless of what you think of him, Trump’s magnetism is undeniable.
But here’s the paradox: If you oppose him, he will try to destroy you.
And in American politics, that Machiavellian strategy has proven to be highly effective.
Rule #2: Admit nothing, deny everything
If Rule #1 is about overwhelming your enemies with force, Rule #2 is about something even more powerful: controlling reality itself.
This is Roy Cohn’s second golden rule, and Trump has turned it into an art form.
The rule is simple: Never admit fault. Never concede. Deny everything. No matter what.
This isn’t just about avoiding accountability. This is about bending reality to your will.
And Trump has done this over and over again, with astonishing effectiveness.
Let’s look at some of the most infamous examples.
Case study: The lawsuit that “never happened”
One of Trump’s earliest legal battles came in the 1970s when the U.S. Department of Justice sued Trump’s father’s company for racial discrimination in housing.
Trump’s response?
They didn’t just deny the charges—they counter-sued the U.S. government.
Eventually, the Trumps settled. But how did Trump spin it?
“We didn’t lose. We won.”
Factually, this was untrue. But in Trump’s world, it became true.
And this pattern would repeat throughout his entire career.
The 2020 election: The ultimate reality distortion field
Nowhere is this rule more evident than in Trump’s handling of the 2020 election.
Every court ruling, every recount, every single legal fact pointed to the same conclusion: Trump lost.
And yet, to this day, millions of people still believe he won.
Why?
Because he never admitted defeat.
Instead, he reframed the entire election as a stolen victory. He flooded social media with claims of fraud, manipulated perception, and planted a seed that no amount of evidence could uproot.
This is the power of Rule #2.
If you simply refuse to acknowledge reality, you force the world to choose: Do they believe their own eyes? Or do they believe you?
And if you’re charismatic enough, bold enough, and unyielding enough—people will believe you.
Trump’s superpower: The ability to rewrite history in real-time
A few months ago, I spoke to a seminar organizer who used to book Trump for speaking events before he became President.
He told me something mind-blowing.
There was a seminar where 8,000 people attended.
After the event, he followed Trump back to his suite for a quick chat.
Trump picked up the phone, called Melania, and said:
“Can you believe it? 18,000 people showed up to see me!”
Now—Trump knew the real number.
The seminar organizer was sitting right next to him.
And yet, in that moment, Trump rewrote the past.
Not out of forgetfulness. Not out of a simple exaggeration.
But because, in his mind, 18,000 was now a reality.
And this is where Trump does something most people can’t comprehend:
He doesn’t just lie—he creates a new truth.
Most of us, when confronted with reality, adjust our beliefs. Trump does the opposite.
He adjusts reality to fit his beliefs.
The big leap: Trump and the absence of an “upper limit”
Now, let’s pause for a moment—because there’s a fascinating personal growth concept at play here.
Gay Hendricks, in The Big Leap, talks about something called the Upper Limit Problem.
The idea is that most people have an internal thermostat for success, happiness, and self-worth.
When we exceed that limit—whether it’s a big career win, a massive relationship breakthrough, or a financial windfall—we subconsciously sabotage ourselves to return to our comfort zone.
Trump?
He has the opposite problem.
He doesn’t see limits at all.
He expands reality to fit his version of himself.
Call it narcissism. Call it delusion.
But the reality is—it works.
Because the world believes the people who believe in themselves the most.
This brings us to…
Rule #3: Always claim victory
There’s a phrase in branding and persuasion that goes like this:
“It’s not about the truth. It’s about the truth people believe.”
And no one embodies this more than Trump.
Roy Cohn’s third golden rule was simple but incredibly effective: No matter what happens, always claim victory.
Even when you lose.
Even when the facts say otherwise.
Because here’s the secret: People don’t remember details. They remember the story. And the story that wins is the one told with the most conviction.
Trump understands this better than almost anyone alive.
He doesn’t just claim victory—he does it with so much confidence that people start questioning reality itself.
The 2020 election: The biggest “victory” that never happened
Let’s take a step back to the 2020 election.
By every possible metric—legal, statistical, factual—Trump lost.
The courts ruled against him. Recounts confirmed the results. Every piece of credible evidence pointed to the same conclusion: Joe Biden won.
But Trump never conceded.
Instead, he reframed the loss as a fraudulent victory.
He planted the idea that the election was stolen, and once that narrative took hold, no amount of evidence could shake it. And here’s what’s absolutely mind-blowing—millions still believe it.
Not because the claim was supported by facts. But because it was delivered with conviction.
This is why Trump is still the dominant force in Republican politics today. Because he never allowed himself to be seen as a loser. In the world of influence and personal branding, losing is often worse than being wrong. And Trump knows that.
The bankruptcy “wins”
The 2020 election wasn’t the first time Trump rewrote history in real-time. In the 1990s, his business empire was crumbling.
- His Atlantic City casinos were bleeding money.
- He filed for multiple bankruptcies.
- His investors lost billions.
For most business leaders, this would have been the end. But not for Trump.
He never admitted failure. Instead, he rebranded bankruptcy as a genius business move. He walked away from his casino failures richer than before—while his investors got wiped out.
But if you ask him? He’ll tell you he won. And because he never acknowledged defeat, most people never saw him as a failure.
The inauguration crowd that “grew” on its own
One of the most blatant examples of this rule happened on Trump’s first day in office.
During his inauguration, news outlets published aerial photos comparing his crowd size to Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
And the difference was clear: Obama’s crowd was far bigger.
So what did Trump do?
He simply declared that his crowd was the largest in history. Even though the photos proved otherwise.
Rather than backing down, his press secretary doubled down on the claim. Suddenly, the conversation wasn’t about policies, the economy, or the future—it was about who had the biggest crowd.
And by the time the media finished arguing about it, Trump had already moved on.
The power of reframing reality
The lesson here isn’t just about Trump.
It’s about human psychology.
- Entrepreneurs sell themselves as billionaires before they hit their first million.
- Athletes visualize their victories before stepping onto the field.
- CEOs project confidence in their startups, even when their companies are burning cash.
Because here’s the truth: Winning is often a matter of perception. And if you can control the perception, you can control reality.
When this works (and when it doesn’t)
Now, this rule is incredibly powerful—but it has two sides.
If you declare victory with conviction, you can:
- Attract investors who believe in your vision.
- Build momentum even when the odds are against you.
- Create the feeling of winning—which often leads to actual success.
But there’s a dark side: delusion.
If you keep claiming victory even when reality is crumbling, eventually, the truth catches up.
- Investors stop believing in you.
- Employees lose faith.
- Your empire collapses.
So the real question isn’t just, “Does this work?”—because it clearly does.
The real question is: How far would you take it? Because once you start bending reality, it’s easy to lose sight of the truth altogether.
And that leads us to Trump’s final rule—his true superpower.
Rule #4: Relentless optimism
Roy Cohn taught Trump how to attack and deny, but the fourth and final rule in Trump’s personal growth playbook comes from a very different source: Norman Vincent Peale, the pastor who shaped Trump’s core belief system.
Peale’s philosophy, outlined in The Power of Positive Thinking, was radical self-belief taken to the extreme. His mantra? “If you think it, it will be so.” In other words, reality bends to the will of those who believe hard enough. And Trump has lived by this principle his entire life.
The power of positive illusions
This explains why Trump’s many financial collapses never seemed to faze him. Even when his Atlantic City casinos went bankrupt, he walked into meetings projecting absolute confidence—so much so that banks kept lending him money. He convinced investors that failure wasn’t real because, in his mind, it simply wasn’t an option.
And it wasn’t just business—this mindset shaped his entire approach to politics. Take his presidential campaign in 2016. Pundits laughed at the idea of a reality TV star with no political experience winning the White House. The media dismissed his campaign as a joke. And yet, Trump acted as if victory was inevitable from day one. His supporters felt his confidence, and that belief became contagious.
Failure? What failure?
Most people, when they suffer a public failure, go into damage control. They issue apologies, explain their mistakes, and try to win back credibility.
Not Trump.
When something doesn’t go his way, he simply acts like it never happened. His businesses collapse? “That was a smart business move.” His administration fumbles a policy? “It was actually a huge success.”
And here’s the wild part—people buy it.
Psychologists call this “positive illusions”, a cognitive bias where people who maintain extreme optimism—even in the face of failure—end up influencing reality itself. When a leader truly believes they are winning, they can convince others to follow them—even if the facts say otherwise.
Trump’s ultimate psychological shield
One of the most fascinating things about Trump’s relentless optimism is how it serves as a psychological shield.
A former White House aide once described watching him walk into a meeting completely unprepared, bluff his way through, and leave convinced he had dominated the room. He had no self-doubt. No hesitation. Just pure, unshakable confidence.
And the thing is, this kind of mindset is scientifically proven to work. Studies have shown that leaders who project confidence—whether or not it’s justified—are perceived as more competent. Even when they fail, people see them as visionaries rather than frauds.
The real lesson: When optimism becomes delusion
So, does relentless optimism work? Absolutely. It keeps you moving forward. It makes failure feel like a temporary inconvenience rather than a real setback. It builds an aura of invincibility.
But there’s a fine line between optimism and delusion.
At some point, reality catches up. Investors pull out. Supporters grow skeptical. And if you’ve built your empire entirely on positive illusions, the crash can be catastrophic.
So, the real question isn’t whether Trump’s relentless optimism is effective.
The question is: How far would you take it?
Final thoughts
Would you use these rules?
Trump’s rules—Attack Relentlessly, Deny Everything, Always Claim Victory, and Stay Relentlessly Optimistic—aren’t just political tactics. They are principles of influence, branding, and personal resilience that have been used by leaders, CEOs, and power players throughout history.
These rules have built billion-dollar empires, crushed opposition, and propelled him to the highest office in the world. They are also rooted in psychological strategies used by the most powerful figures throughout history—from military generals to corporate titans to media moguls.
But they also come with a cost.
When you attack relentlessly, you create enemies who never forget. When you deny reality, reality eventually catches up. When you always claim victory, you risk delusion. And when you stay relentlessly optimistic, you walk a fine line between confidence and blind arrogance.
Yet, these strategies work—at least for a time. And perhaps that’s why Trump, even in the face of indictments, bankruptcies, and political defeats, remains as influential as ever.
And here’s the thing. If you had asked me before that evening in March 2024 at Mar-a-Lago, I would have said—without hesitation—that I was anti-Trump. Not because of his policies, not because of his party, but because I had assumed he was a vengeful, hateful man. Someone so consumed by anger and ego that being in a room with him would be suffocating.
But that wasn’t the man I met. The Trump I saw was the exact opposite—charismatic, warm, full of high energy. And honestly? He was just fun to be around. Not the monster I had expected.
And it wasn’t just him.
I had also assumed that the MAGA movement was filled with narrow-minded conspiracy theorists, racists, and hateful and delusional people who saw the world in extremes. But the people I met in that room weren’t like that at all. They were kind. They were generous. They were intelligent. They operated from a different set of facts, yes—but they were open to discussion. They listened. They debated politely. They were willing to engage.
That night, I had to confront an uncomfortable truth about myself.
A lot of the conclusions I made about Trump and his followers came from one side of the media. And that had shaped my worldview into a rigid, binary perspective—where certain politicians were good and others were evil.
But life isn’t binary. Everything lies on a spectrum.
And in that spectrum are shades of gray—nuances that get erased when we let ourselves be polarized.
That night, I left with a newfound conviction: the moment you label one side as “good” and the other as “bad,” you stop seeing reality. You stop analyzing people for who they actually are, and instead, you judge them based on the version of them you’ve been fed.
I no longer see the world that way. And I don’t think anyone else should, either. Because the best way to truly see the truth about someone isn’t to assume. It isn’t to rely on what you’re told. It’s to analyze them yourself—to look at them with an open mind, to see both their light and their shadow, and to recognize that we all exist somewhere in between.
So, the real question isn’t just whether these rules work.
The real question is: Would you use them?
If you would or wouldn’t, let me know in the comments below.
Because at the end of the day, power isn’t about being right—it’s about knowing how to play the game.
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Comment by Vishen:
I want to be clear, this newsletter is not meant to be political – America is divided on their voting choices and I won’t bring politics into Mindvalley. But I have been clear since 2016 on my stance on Trump. He is not the right man to lead America and has too many flaws of character. Even the day before the election I went on Instagram live to endorse Harris (on my insta, not Mindvalley). I still hold the view that Trump should not have won. But my job is to bring unity and not get political on Mindvalley. This article is designed to provoke thought and to show that in politics today – Machiavellian and Sun Tzu principles oftentimes trump spiritual laws. For each rule I’m not suggesting one adopt them – I’m only shining light on the belief system behind them.
514 Responses
Interesting profile of his “Personal Brand” dynamic that I have pondered myself not being a Trump supporter, and I would agree with most of this on why it works for him. That said what about the facts that he is a pathological liar, he will exploit anyone for his own personal gain and has no interest in humanity whatsoever…are those now “positive” virtues and is this really a personality model we should aspire too?! One thing that I have learned in my life experiences (60+) is that “Integrity” and “Character” are the highest personal virtues that an individual can live up to, and what you have just outlined as a strategy for success appears to be completely void of either. The President of the United States stands as a role model for the nation and sadly your proposed ideology is a recipe for the decay of all morality and decent values in this country…for humanities sake shouldn’t this world be heading in the opposite direction? Perhaps you might want to rethink putting such an admittedly shameless, blatantly deceitful and corrupt individual on a pedestal to be admired?!
Is MindValley trying to build more Trumps? Do we need more ruthless people like him? Are you promoting his killer methodology? I get that Vishen is trying to be open, be edgy, and consider the really controversial conversation, but this orange man is throwing hundreds of thousands of lives into CHOAS! He is putting the wellbeing of millions of people at severe risk. He is hinting at world war.
Read the fucking room, Vishen. This is not the time.
I don’t care that he was nice at a party surrounded by his cronies. I care that he is threatening the sovereignty of nations. I care that he is hurting millions of people. Is this what you are inadvertently promoting: war and mass murders? Is this worth it to you?
I find this post callous and ill-timed. Should we expect a similar breakdown on why Putin is an interesting person next? Perhaps other famous villains? And delivered with a how-to manual so that more empathy-void people will follow suit?
Is that responsible? Was that considered when someone decided to push this rhetoric out to thousands of people around the world in an email. Does you flashing your “open-minded curiosity” about the most evil and vile human on the planet serve you? Because I doubt very much that it will serve the bigger picture. And I certainly WILL NOT accept what he is doing to his country, to mine, and globally. His actions are abhorrent. Despite your disclaimer at the beginning of this email/post, I believe this discourse is inappropriate coming from MindValley. I’m a hard NO for this. I am definitely not at MindValley for this dangerous kind of blather.
I never felt at ease with you owning the Silva Method, as your energy imprint has always been off for some reason; trust energetic is missing. This email you sent today was confirmation of who you truly are.
This was the most inappropriate and out of touch with reality email you have ever, ever, written.
Using politics, Trump and his Maga trumpeters as role models for what they actually oppose, is blatant show of how out of reality and privileged you are. I wish you were a public company and we could vote you out of your CEO seat.
– You want me to use Trump’s tactics? Here it is:
— Attack, attack, attack
See your email and this response.
—Admit nothing, deny everything
See your email
—Always claim victory
See your email
I sure hope there are thousands more who unsubscribe so you can make space for you Maga friends.
Well Vishan, i am sure some young middle aged rich German who had dinner with Hitler thought the same thing. I am sure some person thought the same thing about Jim Jones(cult leader). Right now as we speak people are talking themselves into the “fine people” narrative that you just laid out. But i get it. This is what people in certain economic strata do. Many are seduced by power & just want to taste a little to see if they can remain unchanged. Every tyrant that has ever existed had someone who thought they were human. They were right, every tyrant that has ever existed was a human being. But that does not change the things they did. You are Dancing with the Devil on this one. Like most who dance with the devil, you likely will get burned. Why? Because that is what the devil does. My religious tradition teaches that the devil is very seductive & charming. You seemed to be seduced. I wonder; how all the receivers of USAID aide feel; how all the Federal workers & farmers feel, the Ukranians feel. Do you?
I am disturbed by this sharing. Referring to Trumps actions and behaviors as a personal growth model is sad. I am so disappointed by this writing. I really no longer want to support this platform. I would love to hear your thoughts on Hitler’s personal growth model. Maybe if we stopped referring to crimes against humanity and human rights as political and called them what they are “human rights violations” then we could face reality and take steps towards change. I believe we are all responsible for our energy and how we manage it but I do not believe in pretending bullying and violating others rights is any example of a “personal growth model”.
Wow, just yesterday I was musing how DT should be one of my spiritual mentors…then today you published this fascinating article. I resonate with claiming victory and staying optimistic. But the other principles are not aligned. Thanks for a fun article! 🙏🏻
so disappointed anyone can be lead falsely and see this is the way to be.? WHAT MORALS? Shame to read that this is an art or pulse to promote. I truly hope we the people and our planted survives from all the new found truths that ARE lies.
What a terrifying perspective on malignant narcissism. No matter how charismatic he may be, his blatant disregard for humanity, rule of law, and decency is horrifying. The fascist regime that is overtaking the United States is not something to be admired.
Hey Vishen,
Trumps for rules for success are neutral in power. They are neither good nor bad.
They are ways of viewing and acting in the world.
They can be used to gain positive or negative outcomes. Each person can apply the rules according to their moral views and values.
So here is how I would use Trump’s rule to transform my life.
+ Attack Relentlessly
Face all fears, insecurities, negative beliefs head on
+ Deny Everything
Push aside all thoughts, programming and false self-beliefs that say you cannot achieve your goals and become the person you dreamt of being
+ Always Claim Victory
Acknowledge small and big wins every single day
+ Stay Relentlessly Optimistic
Believe you will achieve your goals. Live as if I have already won. See success as inevitable.
——————-
______________
[ On a separate note.
The is another great newsletter Vishen. I often read the entirety of your newsletters unless they are overtly selling me something. Hooks and techniques to keep the reader’s attention are great but ultimately people read and watch content if it adds value to their lives.]
The first three rules are all about power over others. I don’t need power over others.
We need to realize that we’re currently witnessing the extinction burst of capitalism and patriarchy. The idea of success within these paradigms has been fading and will only continue to fade. That game is ENDING. Time to build a new game wherein we are self-empowered—where we don’t give our power away to people like Trump or Harris. We go within for our power.
So, no. I don’t really give a shit about that old game and being successful within it. It’s fine if other people want to continue playing it, but I’m putting my awareness toward building a different game wherein all people can flourish.
I think a lot of this is based on where you get your “facts”. I can tell that you lean left from the article and your getting your “facts” from the left which has been caught red handed and is blatantly open about what they are doing to the point of changing the very definitions of words to shape narratives. A prime example of this is the Covid 19 pandemic. We were lied to and deceived. Many on the left saw this and it opened their eyes as it did on the right. Now more corruption is being exposed but the focus is not on the corruption or acts of deceit but on wether or not we like the president based off of or opinions given to us by a corrupt news media. Dennis Prager says “the truth is not a left wing value” and I find that to be true of every leftist I meet and talk to about political issues. They are more interested in intentions and how nicely words are said even if they are deceitful and radically destructive. Some of the worst things have happened with the best intentions such as voting for communism and that is a historical fact. No matter how nice someone says something doesn’t mean their actions will follow, such as lying. Lying, even done in the nicest of ways is extremely destructive. I also see deep angry emotions from leftists in politics . My view on this is that they are not digging deep enough or seeing beyond what is reported and repeated by every news station word for word thus, brainwashing people to the point of radicalism. Ie: school shootings, attacks on crowds, and assignation attempts which have all been from clearly radical leftist but it get barley reported and buried. They are essentially brain washed by media. I see this on the right as well however but most of the facts are backed up by independents and the fact checkers have no funding by leftist or rightists to influence the “fact” . When I step back from this topic and rein in my emotions and try to see this from the bigger picture and what I notice the most is division. Both sides actively try to divide. I have friends on both sides and I love both for different reasons. I see the real problem is with those that try to divide because that is where they will try to conquer or control. I’d like see us all looking at actual facts and get actual news that we can trust without opinions or secret donors and outside influences. I think your article speaks to finding some cooling of emotions to those that did vote for Trump and I see that as progress and would encourage that because they are not radical right wing racists as the news would have you believe they/ we are good people /normal people/ broken people just like the left. We’re all standing in the same point in the universe but we just choose to see one direction and not the other because someone tells us to. We should all drop the high emotion and try to find the good from both sides.
This post really was different! if these points were discussed without naming the name, I think maybe more people would like to think along.
is winning really everything? What about compassion, humanity, pure human decency?
For me tjhere is no strategy, there is a diagnosis. And it’s very easy to fall into the net of false warmth and feeling kind of important in the presence of a big man like him. But. And there is always a but. You are treated well only as long as you have something to give to him. Not a second longer. As soon as you loose your value, you are out of the door. No second thought about you.
So no, thjere is no strategy. He is what he is.
And although I do believe in some of the above mentioned points, they should never be used without empathy and regard of another human being.
Vishen, I feel so much love for you for having the courage to write such a politicized and truly honest piece. Its so fascinating to see the history of how Trump came to be. I’m not a Trump fan at all, but I can see how his rules can bend reality, we have watched it for years. I can also see pieces for personal growth, and pieces when used with moral and ethical boundaries can be really used for good. Your point about realizing that you had judged ‘based on the version of them you were fed’ was powerful for me. I agree and take this as an invitation to look at not only Trump, but any others that I have viewed that way as well. Everyone has light, dark and shadow sides. It doesn’t mean that bad decisions are excused, but that what can we learn from it all. Great piece!
That was the most full of shit article of your’s that I have read to date! As long as you’re fun, charismatic, blah, blah, blah…. You can hurt, use, sacrifice degrade marginalize people?! For your parlor game to power? While reading, I kept waiting for your punchline. It never came, but you, your true energy, your bullshit game became crystal clear. What we admire, we become….all of your “logic” in your article shows me that you are there. You are lost sir and I hope you find your way through the maze. I however am done with you and your bullshit con!
With all the negative comments before mine, you can clearly see that there is no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and as Vishen mentioned at the end…when we start labeling good and bad we lose reality. I think that this was a great piece, it gives you another perspective – and you can take it or leave it. Trump is a child of the Universe no matter if you like it or not and by being so, if I treat him bad to his face or not, I’m only ever truly treating myself bad…so let’s not.
Thank you again for speaking your truth, even though there are some that deny theirs.
This was completely tone deaf and off the mark. Giving him a platform shows you have put morals and ethics aside. I am no longer subscribing.
Brilliant analysis and conclusion. World is not black and white. I never looked at Trump from this perspective and it is eye opening. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your analysis and query. Blessings for success in all you aspire to accomplish.
Only 3 responses seems unlikely… you asked for comments… be integral and print them all!
Absolutely no. Donald Trump is a horrible person. I don’t care how he looks to other people. The reality is he has no empathy. It’s obvious from the way he hates on people and circumstances. I’m so disappointed to know that you find him fascinating. A serial cheater and sexual offender should never be praised.