Key Point: AI & Censorship is Erasing & Modifying Traditional Systems of Healing of Knowledge that took Generations to Build, Why Writing in Your Area of Expertise is SO Important Now.
Why am I bothering to write a wellness blog?
There are certainly plenty of health and wellness blogs and books out there. Many writers are more polished with larger followings than mine and few people even read anymore, so why go the effort to write and create in this competitive space.
Experience as a Wellness Writer
You probably don't know this but I have worked as a ghost writer in the wellness space for years. With my keen research oriented brain, (hello ADHD 🧠) I found a unique niche writing for wellness professionals. These professionals were well respected herbalists, chiropractors, naturopaths and family medicine practitioners that needed someone who could bridge the gap between their wealth of knowledge and the reader's interest. I loved this work and the value that I was offering to both the practitioners and the clients.
In this role I had the great privilege of pouring over volumes of health related research articles and texts not commonly available to the general public. I listened to hours of conversations from these wellness professionals as they shared what they felt were the most transformative bits of info in their practice. Then I distilled it all down to readable bits for clients in the form of protocols, newsletters, and articles. It provided me with a unique “mentorship” opportunity and a means of income while I built up my own clientele. Demand for this service gradually dropped off with changes in digital media, but because of it I have a very unique perspective on the health and wellness related content I see popping up.
What I Have Noticed: Forced Focus on Serving the Algorithm Not the Truth
My experience as a wellness writer as well as my own extensive wellness education and practitioner experience has led me to notice some alarming trends in recent health related information. It is my observation that changes in digital media have forced those wishing to expand their client base to focus on “content creation” and marketing tactics rather than providing open, honest information.
Please hear me. I am not claiming that practitioners are being deceitful or withholding. I also don’t have anything against marketing. Marketing is a necessary part of any business. I am simply stating the fact that our current virtual atmosphere has become so regulated, censured and modified that it is impossible for most wellness experts to openly state much of the information they know to be true. We have transitioned from consuming media that was freely shared amongst one another to only being able to see what is allowed by “community standards.” (It’s even changing our language as alternate words become part of our daily speech).
We rarely see articles by writers or journalists but are bombarded by content that is designed to abide by the almighty algorithms rules. I am NOT criticizing here. I definitely fall into this as well. We all know it but feel trapped in this matrix of alternate information in an effort to continue to keep our doors open and offer what services we can to the community we love. (Fun Fact: FB Community guidelines advised not to even mention the words “vitamins or supplements!”)
Why it Matters? It’s Changing Us
This progressive shift in the information we consume and the language we are allowed to use is changing us. The uncomfortable reality is that each of us is part of a great cognitive experiment that is unfolding. And while these technologies do make the rate of information exchange much more widely available it is deeply concerning to me that many of the essential aspects of traditional systems of knowledge may be lost or completely erased in the process. Learning Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Herbalism or other systems of healing must be preserved in their totality. They are not our own but the people’s and we all have a duty to keep them alive & intact.
The Impact is Real!
I am particularly concerned about the AI generated content that pops up in my browser and is now integrated into most content software and platforms. These technologies make producing content faster but not better. They often miss critical bits of info and are merely regurgitations of what is already posted. If what is primarily available is what pleases the algorithm then how long before we are producing an echo chamber of inaccurate information that at best is misleading and at worse could have detrimental health impacts?
Experts Please Write
If you are a fellow wellness expert, I beg you to please make a space to share what you know to be true. We must document and share these systems of healing and make them commonplace with reverence and accuracy that is beyond what media platforms typically allow. So launch a private community, get started on your own blog, hold an in person meet up where you can really nurture and serve.
Share if You Dare!
Show some support and share this little article with someone you know who will value it. Help this community grow so we can preserve these important life giving truths.
If you feel lead you can also donate to support an upgrade for this platform. My goal is to create an upgraded site with a free membership option that will allow me to post all the important knowledge I have collected after a lifetime of learning that censorship and algorithms won’t allow..
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