I recognized the voice and tone, but the words that came through my headphones left me in disbelief. During a podcast episode in March 2020, Jess Lively shared how she consulted her Inner Voice to inquire about the possibility of her death from the virus, to which the answer was a reassuring "No." I paused the app and sat there, astonished at how my beloved podcast host had transformed into an egocentric individual. The Lively Show had been a staple in my life since its inception in 2014, and Jess Lively had become a relatable and refreshing figure to me, especially as we were both millennials. Throughout her career, she went through various professional endeavors, such as business coaching and personal development workshops before launching her interview-format podcast in 2014. Jess Lively had a talent for engaging with her guests, including Elizabeth Gilbert, Rob Bell, and Alex Ikonn, in an authentic manner, delving deeply and delicately for insights that would benefit her audience. However, a few seasons later, she revealed significant changes in her life, including her divorce and decision to sell her house and possessions to embark on an indefinite travel journey.
The "travel diaries" segment of the podcast began with Jess's global explorations, accompanied by two suitcases and living in various Air BnBs. She spent her days studying quantum mechanics in coffee shops and admiring the beauty of her surroundings. I found it captivating to live vicariously through Jess's unique lifestyle, which was made possible by her unwavering self-confidence and commitment to herself.
In 2016, Jess delved into the concept of the Law of Attraction on The Lively Show, which involved reading books on physics, consciousness, and quantum mechanics, and taking extensive notes. She created virtual workshops based on her findings, focusing on the teachings of "Abraham" Hicks, a channeled voice that explained universal principles. Jess referred to this aspect of the podcast as "woo-woo," but she lived by the concept of flow and attained a state of oneness with the universe, enabling her dreams and innermost desires to manifest easily by aligning herself with universal frequencies.
It was fascinating to learn about Jess's use of these principles to achieve her dream life of traveling and teaching globally. However, I had to remind myself that I lived in the real world, where I didn't have a stunningly designed home to sell for funding, and couldn't spend hours meditating and eating chocolate for breakfast every day to reach the ideal frequency for starting my day.
Despite the changes brought about by the year 2020, I continued to listen to The Lively Show for some time. However, in January of that year, I received a cancer diagnosis, and in March I underwent extensive surgery to remove cancer. As I prepared for radiation treatment, I listened to a Q&A episode of the podcast, in which Jess spoke about her own experiences with the pandemic while living abroad. She had been in Thailand, but due to travel restrictions, she flew to Hawaii and recorded an episode in which she answered listener questions. When asked about her fears of contracting Covid-19 during her travels, she replied that she had asked her Inner Voice if she would die from the virus, and the response was "No," which assured her that it was safe for her to travel. As someone who was personally affected by the pandemic and had to quarantine for months, I found it disappointing that her concern was only about her safety and not about potentially spreading the virus to others.
When speaking to journalists after a tragedy, people often express a common sentiment: "I never thought this could happen here." The unspoken belief is that their town or neighborhood was immune to such heartache, and their loved ones were safe. In contrast, Jess Lively's inquiry about Covid should have been followed by a series of questions about how her actions might affect others. Her failure to consider the well-being of those around her, including fellow passengers, drivers, and strangers in her path, is the most revealing aspect of her spirituality or lack thereof. A spiritual practice that focuses exclusively on the self while disregarding others is incredibly selfish. The Law of Attraction posits that we manifest our reality through our thoughts and their associated vibrations. Positive thoughts attract positive energy, while negative thoughts attract negative energy, similar to how magnets work.
This perspective may seem reasonable to those who are wealthy, and white and have had little hardship in their lives other than a missed payment here or there. They may have been given a comfortable life by their middle-class parents and perhaps shared a car with a sibling to earn some spending money in high school before going on to graduate from a decent university with the financial support of their parents. However, if you were born into a household with multiple generations and had to work in high school to help pay bills, and your father passed away at a young age, and all of your siblings suffer from health issues due to drinking contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, for example, what kind of negative thoughts created that environment? This spiritual belief system seems to place blame on the victim for events that could be considered "Acts of God" by insurance companies.
In 2019, Jess Lively lived in Sydney while teaching about the Law of Attraction. During this time, she shared her practice of disengaging from the news, meditating, and relying on her Inner Voice for decision-making, from mundane choices like what to wear and where to eat, to bigger ones like where to travel next. On one of her Instagram posts, someone questioned how the devastating brush fires in Sydney could be part of a divine plan, especially since animals affected by the fires have no choice in aligning themselves with the universe's energy. Jess Lively declined to directly answer the question but instead shared a statement about redirecting our energy towards the well-being of the lands affected and their future. She emphasized that internal pain does not help anyone and that we can instead ask our Inner Voice for guidance on how we can help, whether it's through sharing money or sending love.
Although the general sentiment of Jess Lively's statement is appreciated, it fails to address the question or be of much help. While it's true that feeling terrible about situations outside of our control doesn't benefit anyone, focusing solely on oneself is also unproductive. The Law of Attraction and other similar spirituality practices promoted by Jess Lively and other teachers like Gabby Bernstein tend to prioritize the individual and overlook the collective. Their desire to avoid offending anyone by expressing personal political views leads them to adopt a "you do you" mentality in which everything becomes subjective. This attitude has been particularly prevalent among fitness influencers during the pandemic, as many have re-opened in-person exercise classes with the caveat that getting vaccinated is optional. Although this laissez-faire approach may suit some, it fails to consider those who are immunocompromised and at higher risk. For these individuals, "you do you" translates to being in a small room with unvaccinated people who may easily transmit the virus, potentially causing serious harm. As a result, "you do you" can be both dismissive and dangerous for those with compromised immune systems.
Many affluent individuals in the United States reside in communities that shelter them from the adversities experienced by less fortunate people. A prime example of this was when the draft Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health case was leaked. In states that already had laws safeguarding a woman’s right to choose, people felt secure even though more than half the states in the country would be adversely affected by the opinion, which could reduce or entirely remove access to legal abortions. As a result, they might not have felt a pressing need to demonstrate or make their voices heard on the subject of reproductive rights. Such people might think, "My access is safe. My children can have abortions if needed. I’m not directly impacted by this, so I’ll disengage from the news." In a variety of regions across the country, people have carried out massacres. Kimberly Rubio, the mother of ten-year-old Lexi Rubio who was killed in Texas, gave moving testimony during a Congressional hearing. She said that other mothers might believe that such incidents would never happen to them, but they could very easily occur. Kimberly Rubio urged other citizens to advocate for the reform of gun laws, stating, "Somewhere out there a mom is listening to our testimony, thinking ‘I can’t even imagine their pain.’ Not knowing our reality will one day be hers, unless we act now."
The teachings of wealthy, white woman spirituality advise followers to "do what resonates." While this may seem harmless, it ignores the challenges faced by those whose rights are under threat by the justice system. For example, a family with a transgender child may want to seek medical treatment to affirm their gender identity, but Texas law puts them at risk of investigation. It is much harder for some people to "do what resonates" when they face systemic obstacles that prevent them from thriving. The underlying principles of this spirituality harm rather than help those who are already marginalized. The phrase "you do you" only works for those who can navigate daily life without physical struggle. If you are balancing multiple jobs and childcare responsibilities, you do not have the time, money, or resources to engage with systems that are designed to keep you down. Those with more privilege need to use their time, money, and influence to fight for those who cannot.
The Bible contains well-known teachings and quotes that some Christians choose to ignore, such as loving thy neighbor, avoiding greed, and not judging others. All major religions prioritize collective welfare, considering the community as part of a holistic spiritual practice. However, modern-day spirituality often lacks a focus on the collective, which could have serious consequences. Wealthy individuals, who often practice this type of spirituality, can make a difference by lobbying for change and standing up for human rights. If people continue to ignore the problems that do not directly affect them, such as the right to abortion or the rights of immigrants, the consequences may be severe. It is crucial to realize that even if something does not affect you directly, it is still important to care and take action. Being in a spiritual bubble and ignoring the problems of the world is a choice, and it is essential to use your voice to help improve the lives of others.
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