Trends I've Seen That I Can No Longer Unsee That Will Be Going Away: The Fall of Unauthentic Voices in Wellness in Social Media.

I am grateful for the numerous conversations with numerous people in my community. Especially in my Instagram community, where there are so many kind, authentic people who are interested in wellness from all perspectives of body, mind, spirit and soul. Join me there:

https://www.instagram.com/sandyknutrition/

Over the last six months or so, I have questioned the authenticity and intentions of many in the online wellness community. I question this no less than I question all the pharmaceutical ads out there now.

Some may call this virtue signalling - who am I to question? I have always held high morals, standards, and integrity—those who know me know this. But I accept that I am also far from perfect. My shadow side tends to be critical, judgmental, and unaccepting, so I am constantly working on this. I also have to work on accepting others for where they’re at rather than expecting them to act as I would. We all have our own journey. As for virtue signalling - this is a “woke” term I simply don’t welcome into my vocabulary.

Here are some very specific actions I have noticed on a broad scale across all social media platforms from people in the wellness space:

• People paying to speak at conferences just to gain fame and notoriety.
• People speaking for free at conferences just for fame and notoriety.
• Health influencers offering numerous discount codes and pushing products when they don't use them or truly support them in their lives. This is out of control and I have completely lost respect for people I know personally because of this. Some flat out lie about it just to make affiliate money.
• Money, greed, power and fame are the main motivations for what many do in this space.
• Zero creativity and just copying or regurgitation of anything relating to wellness, whether this is on a spiritual level or just the same health research being spit out over and over by various influencers. Creativity, art, unique expression are very important to authenticity. This is missing now from many.
• Podcasters who mainly have guests for their guests’ notoriety, not because a potential guest has an authentic message or offering to the world.
• Individuals in this industry who steal from others, just to gain their own notoriety.
• Individuals who simply use others for what they can do for them without any energy exchange.
• Individuals buying followers all over the place to look more important than they have proven themselves to be in the space that they’re in.

All of this has become very ugly, and if you’re on the other side of this, I’m sure you wonder, who can you trust anymore?

We all must make a living, and there is no question that there must be an exchange of some sort to feel good about what you do.

But alas, I can no longer unsee the lack of integrity in this space.

What makes earning a life and a living with integrity?

The energy behind it. What’s your goal? Watch my TikTok for a great explanation from James Sexton on fame. You can see it here in my Substack article (please consider joining and supporting my creative writing on wellness here as well): https://sandykruse.substack.com/p/trends-ive-seen-that-i-can-no-longer?r=2p069c

Are you trying to be an “expert” in your field and this is your main motivation?

Are you just looking for fame and notoriety “in your field”?

Are you operating primarily from EGO and greed?

These are the key questions to ask yourself if you’re in this industry.

Why are you doing what you’re doing and how are you going about this?

Part two of this short essay is about how to respond when you can no longer unsee what you see, which is where I am at.

Do you call everyone out individually publicly? Do you bash their name? Tarnish their reputation? Absolutely not, no.

You speak up on it in general. That’s all. Those who notice, notice. Those who don’t, don’t. It’s as simple as this.

What I have done personally is develop the courage to stand on my own, without the association of these individuals.

Often we keep our crutches for fear of falling. However, when we put our crutches away for good and walk on our own, we feel this great sense of freedom. How do I know it’s right? I have zero regrets for those crutches I have put away for good.

I hope this article has helped you. If so, please share it, comment, and follow my podcast. I’ll be having more episodes coming on how to tap into your intuition, what’s right for your life, how to become familiar with your higher self and much more. Thank you for all your support.

Here is the link to my podcasting website where you can see all of my episodes and where you can listen & follow my show so you don’t miss my weekly episodes.

https://sandykruse.ca