AIBU to think positive think generally works better if you are privileged

[RosieLemonade]

My sister just sent me the link to a review of the memoirs of Amanda Kloot. Amanda Kloot is a broadway actress who attracted a lot of attention last year when she used her Instagram to chronicle her husband Nick Cordero’s battle with Covid.
The article reveals, among other things that:
Kloot’s Instagram following swelled from 50,000 to 600,000 during this time.
Kloot was allowed to visit Nick in hospital daily when no other visitors were allowed.
She shouted at hospital staff when she was “only” allowed to visit a Nick for four hours a day.
A friend pulled strings at a federal level to allow her family in Canada to come to LA despite the travel ban.
She has now purchased a $2 million home despite her and Nick being unemployed at the time he went into hospital.
She described the delivery man as her “personal Santa Claus” as she received so many gifts from well wishers.

Non of this was disclosed to her followers at the time and Kloots has stated all of this privilege came from her positive thinking.
Now, any death of a young husband and father is a tragedy but am I being unreasonable to think Kloots does not appreciate that her privileges come from money and connections and not positive thinking?

You won't get a lot of supportive comments because many people won't know/care who she is (I only know because I follow Florence Pugh on social media and I believe Koots is close friends with her partner Zach Braff and lived with them during the time Nick Cordero was in hospital). You are not wrong.

To be honest with you, there's a wider discussion to be had here around the trends of toxic positivity, 'manifestation', lack of critical thinking, privilege and blaming people for not using shitty situations for their own gain. I wasnt aware of how Kloots was currently presenting the situation - it seems nuts and wholly harmful.

I get what you mean, OP.

Lots of wealthy influencers/instagrammers who were wealthy before their online fame bleat on about manifesting and law of attraction and all that kind of stuff.

Something about her story struck home with people. Yes she was slightly connected but it was more the timing of it all that helped her gain followers, he positive attitude is what got people to follow her. I follow her and there was just something about the story that compelled people to follow. I don’t think she was ever toxic about the whole thing or ignorant to the fact that she got a lot of stuff for free. I don’t understand how she used privilege to get more time kn the hospital, she was new to LA and didn’t have stings to pull, I think people genuinely felt sorry for her. Why do we have to tear people down who try to make the best out of a terrible situation. It isn’t like she is saying being positive actually changed the outcome for Nick. It just framed her story surrounding the tragic circumstances

I don’t know much about her particular case so I don’t feel I can comment (very sorry to hear about her husband though).

However yes more widely, I do think there is a lack of awareness from wealthy influencers/celebrities about their position in the world and how ‘manifesting’ isn’t as simple as solely putting out energy into the world and waiting for the universe to act. You can’t always positive think your way out of poverty for example, even with the best will in the world.

If you already have quite a privileged life, with money/time at your disposal and access to decent housing/medical care/support networks - it seems like you’d have an easier time of ‘manifesting’ further success or comfort than someone without those things.

''She shouted at hospital staff when she was “only” allowed to visit a Nick for four hours a day.''

Did she actually 'shout' though or just complain?

I was a widowed single mum, living on benefits and while positive thinking and meditation helped me personally. It didn't improve my living situation because I didn't have support in any way. There wasn't options for me. I couldn't magic up money and childcare. In a way she's downplaying the help from others and not really being grateful for that.
I know a few single mum's who do the 'if we can do it anyone can' posts on social media. I just think that they don't appreciate what friends and family have done for them and are taking more credit than they deserve, while not giving any out.

If 100 people think positive, and one of those people hits lucky and gets rich, they will bleat about how they manifested good luck and wealth by positive thinking. When actually they basically just won the lottery. And in most cases they have won because they have money and connections.

I come from some privilege. I've also had some hard times in adulthood which it was up to me alone to sort and which have left me wary of life. Positive thinking, in my experience, will get you so far but not necessarily all the way- down to the final 2 at an interview etc. Repeatedly. It might sustain you to eventually get there and give you staying power, but I think it's a mix of natural disposition and having a certain level of privilege behind you and what that gives.

Also having worked as a retail manager, I appreciate hospitals are different but IME "shouting" at any staff to get your way is usually a sign you're a piece of work. It is less down to privilege or positive mindset than the entitlement that some people just have.