Spirituality can be a source of deep healing—but when misused, it can also cause harm. This blog explores the subtle yet powerful dynamic of spiritual narcissism—where ego hides behind enlightenment. It’s a call for awareness, integrity, and accountability in modern spiritual spaces. Let’s move beyond performance into a practice rooted in humility, compassion, and real inner work.

In coaching and wellness, persuasion is powerful—but can easily slip into propaganda. Ethical persuasion informs and empowers; propaganda manipulates. As belief systems go viral, especially at the intersection of wellness and politics, it's vital to lead with integrity, nuance, and critical thinking. Let’s keep it REAL—in practice and in truth.

Belle Gibson faked brain cancer and built a wellness empire on lies, promoting alternative healing while people abandoned real treatment. The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist exposes how wellness culture and new age conspiracies exploit fear, mistrust, and hope—selling false cures and blaming the sick. It's a cautionary tale of deception, harm, and the cost of false hope.

Our perceptions shape our reality, but what if they aren’t as reliable as we think? This post dives into the illusion of belief, using The Dress meme as a powerful metaphor for how our minds interpret the world. Just like color isn’t inherent to objects, our beliefs aren’t fixed truths—they’re shaped by experiences, biases, and expectations. Exploring cognitive science, predictive processing, and scientific research on belief and change, this piece challenges us to question why and how we believe, opening the door to growth and transformation.

I spend a lot of time exposing the shadows of the wellness and New Age industry—helping others recognize what to be on guard for. It’s easy, in those moments, to want to toss the entire thing out—to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Believe me, I’ve been there. Disillusionment does that to a person.

But seeing through the illusion is a good thing. It brings clarity. It allows us to separate what doesn’t serve from what truly does. And in my purpose of helping others, that distinction is essential.

What follows is some of what does work—what is truly helpful.

We humans greatly overestimate how much we actually know. This cognitive bias, known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, reveals that those with the least knowledge often feel the most certain. A few articles or videos can make us feel like experts, yet true expertise requires deep study, self-doubt, and an awareness of complexity. The consequences? Misinformation spreads, conspiracy theories thrive, and we become susceptible to false certainty.

Maybe REAL wisdom isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about recognizing how much you don’t know.

How did the wellness and New Age communities become entangled with conspiracy theories and misinformation? In this post, I explore the intersection of wellness culture and disinformation, examining the psychological forces that drive belief and the real harm caused by conspiratorial thinking. Drawing from my experience as a holistic coach and my ongoing master’s research, I unpack how trusted spaces became breeding grounds for manipulation—and how we can reclaim discernment, integrity, and truth.

Truth is not always straightforward—it’s shaped by perspective, culture, and experience. From relative truth to technical truth and personal truth, each type serves a unique purpose. Other truths, like moral, historical, spiritual, and social, help us navigate life’s complexities. Clashes between truths often create conflict, but by clarifying the type of truth at play, we can foster understanding, reduce division, and build empathy, turning truth into a journey of connection and exploration in a complex world.

Understanding the differences between information, disinformation, misinformation, sensationalism, and bias is essential in today’s media landscape. This quick reference empowers you to think critically, share responsibly, and stay informed.

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Where do you get your news? In an age dominated by social media, where rapid sharing often trumps accuracy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to trust. Social platforms thrive on emotional engagement, feeding us content designed to keep us scrolling while shaping our perceptions. To navigate this chaos, it’s crucial to pause, critically evaluate sources, and seek balanced, fact-based reporting. By cultivating a thoughtful news diet, we can reclaim our minds from the dopamine-fueled, conflict-driven media cycle and move toward clarity and truth.

Change can be chosen, or it can choose us—and the latter often feels like navigating uncharted waters. The space between what was and what will be, filled with uncertainty, challenges our deepest fears and survival instincts. Yet, this 'gap of change' is also a powerful opportunity for growth, uncovering hidden parts of ourselves and demanding courage to face the unknown. Real transformation begins here—with acceptance, boundaries, and grounded action. Let's embrace the journey and step into the work of meaningful change, together.

Exploring grief and transformation, Aleka Thorvalson reflects on the challenge of moving forward when life as we know it changes forever. Discover insights on surrender, resilience, and embracing the unknown. This article addresses the journey of acceptance, the role of trust and allowing in healing, and the truth that the only way out is through."

This captures the themes of grief, transformation, and acceptance, resonating with those navigating personal change and seeking understanding.

When spirituality meets conspiracy: Aleka Thorvalson dives into the intersection of wellness and QAnon, exploring the risks of ‘one-size-fits-all’ thinking in holistic health. Discover the importance of integrity, skepticism, and balanced perspectives in spiritual work. Aleka discusses the danger of closed systems and the value of truth, accountability, and holistic understanding to avoid misguided beliefs."

This covers key concepts like holistic health, integrity, and spirituality to attract readers interested in critical thinking within wellness practices.

Struggling with the Law of Attraction and manifesting? Aleka Thorvalson explains why common metaphysical practices can fall short and the power of authenticity over ‘positive thinking.’ Explore the role of self-understanding, shadow work, and breaking limiting patterns to achieve true transformation. Learn why lasting change requires embracing your unique path and letting go of 'one size fits all' approaches."

This includes keywords like Law of Attraction, manifesting, transformation, and shadow work while capturing the article's deeper themes.

Sometimes, we lose it. In a Publix checkout line, overwhelmed and teary, I learned that perfection isn’t about control or outward success but embracing our flaws and being whole.

Feelings are our inner compass, offering crucial insights and energy for personal growth. While often dismissed or misunderstood, they provide valuable information about our inner world and help us process emotions. By consciously engaging with our feelings, we can heal, grow, and align with our true selves.

Understanding the difference between judgment and discernment is crucial. Discernment is based on personal truth and fosters constructive dialogue, while judgment stems from fear and seeks to control. Embracing discernment helps us navigate disagreements with integrity and authenticity.

Entrepreneurs thrive on action, but balancing this with surrender is crucial. Surrender isn’t passive; it’s an act of trust that allows new possibilities to emerge. Watch for signs like burnout or resistance—they often signal it’s time to let go and align with life’s natural flow.