In today’s world, there’s a booming industry built on the idea that the answers to life’s challenges lie outside of ourselves—in supplements, coaching programs, energy healing, or the latest self-help book. This industry thrives on the illusion that we are incomplete, that we need to constantly “improve” or “heal” by using pseudoscientific methods that promise transformation. But the truth is much simpler and often overlooked: we already have everything we need at our fingertips. Unfortunately, the pseudoscience world has created a market that plays on entitlement and privilege, convincing people that by investing in these fake solutions, they are engaging in authentic self-care or personal development. In reality, they are just being sold an elaborate illusion.
The Trap of Entitlement and Privilege in Wellness
For many, the pursuit of wellness and personal development has become a status symbol. The privileged often seek out supplements, coaching programs, or “natural” healing methods as a way to signal they are taking control of their lives and health in an organic, thoughtful manner. They believe they are making enlightened choices, far superior to ordinary methods like healthy eating, exercise, or traditional medical interventions. The supplement industry, for instance, capitalises on this mindset by selling overpriced vitamins, “detox” pills, or superfoods that have little evidence to support their efficacy. What these consumers don’t realise is that they’re not making themselves healthier—they’re being influenced to believe they are doing something meaningful when, in fact, they are being duped by marketing and pseudoscientific claims.
It’s ironic that those who seek out these solutions often come from backgrounds where they already have access to proper healthcare, education, and resources. Instead of relying on what’s proven, they chase after products and services that offer no real benefit but feel more “holistic” or trendy. What they’re really doing is participating in a carefully crafted narrative designed to keep them coming back for more, never fully satisfied.
NLP and the Fake Friend-Making Machine
Take Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) as an example. NLP markets itself as a powerful tool to enhance communication, build rapport, and achieve personal success. What it really offers, however, is a shallow and manipulative approach to human interaction. NLP teaches people to mimic the body language and speech patterns of others to create rapport—a basic tactic that feels like an artificial shortcut to making friends or gaining influence.
In the real world, friendships and genuine connections are built on shared interests, mutual respect, and organic conversations. You don’t need to mirror someone’s posture or repeat their words to form a connection; what you need is to find common ground, whether it’s through music, sports, or a shared passion. Yet, NLP turns this natural process into a transactional relationship, where the goal is not to build a genuine connection but to gain something from the other person—whether that’s approval, power, or a pay rise. It’s about being fake, not authentic.
NLP, like many pseudosciences, teaches you to act in ways that feel disingenuous, all under the guise of self-improvement. And the irony is that you already know how to build relationships—by simply being yourself and engaging in honest communication. You don’t need a program to teach you how to “make friends” for personal gain. But pseudosciences like NLP rely on the notion that you’re missing some crucial skill, keeping you stuck in a loop of self-doubt and reliance on their techniques.
The Endless Loop of Pseudoscientific Dependency
The most insidious aspect of the pseudoscience world is how it traps people in an endless cycle of needing more. Once you buy into the idea that you are incomplete or need fixing, the solutions they sell are never enough. You leave a decent life behind, thinking there’s a better, more fulfilled version of yourself waiting around the corner—if only you sign up for another coaching program or buy the next supplement.
A perfect example of this is people who, after making major life changes, still don’t find the fulfillment they were promised. So, they sign up for yet another course, perhaps from a “happiness coach” like Marci Shimoff, hoping this time it will be different. This cycle keeps them searching for answers that don’t exist outside of themselves, perpetuating the belief that they are never good enough as they are.
Pseudosciences are designed to make sure you’re never fully satisfied. They offer vague promises of “well-being,” “balance,” or “success” that are impossible to measure and, therefore, impossible to achieve. This keeps you coming back, signing up for more programs or buying more products. The aim isn’t to help you—it’s to keep you dependent on their services.
The Power of What You Already Have
The truth is, you don’t need to spend money on sugar pills, energy healing, or coaching programs to be happy or successful. Wellness is not found in a bottle, and personal growth doesn’t come from following some guru’s step-by-step plan for living. Real growth comes from within—from learning to appreciate what you already have, developing genuine connections with others, and embracing the life you’ve built.
There’s nothing mystical or magical about living a good life. It’s about taking care of your body through proper nutrition, exercise, and rest. It’s about nurturing relationships with family and friends by being present and authentic. It’s about accepting that life isn’t about constant change or chasing perfection, but about finding contentment in what you already have.
The pseudoscience world wants you to believe that you’re incomplete, that you need to keep searching, keep changing, and keep buying. But the reality is, you’re enough as you are. By rejecting these fake solutions and recognising the power of what’s already at your fingertips, you free yourself from the cycle of dissatisfaction that pseudoscience thrives on.
In a world full of promises of instant fixes and easy transformations, the greatest act of self-care is to stop looking for external solutions and trust in your own ability to live a fulfilling, authentic life.