Perhaps it’s just my algorithm. I accidentally stumbled through some “You Are So Close” videos that, quite frankly, I was left feeling pumped and excited.  I’ve been alone writing manuscripts, so to get some “confirmation” from star seed channelers felt … good. But now, every time I open YouTube, I see a new content creator with the same positive messages, tarot cards, clairvoyant knowing into my life, etc. So is this just a trend?

A lot of these videos are built around a very old psychological formula: make the viewer feel uniquely seen, uniquely destined, and emotionally reassured. This combination is extremely compelling, especially during periods of uncertainty, loneliness, transition, heartbreak, ambition, or identity searching.

The reason they often sound identical is because they’re designed to be broadly applicable. 

• “People underestimated you.”
• “You’re entering a powerful new chapter.”
• “Someone is secretly thinking about you.”
• “You’re spiritually gifted.”
• “Big abundance is coming.”
• “You are incredibly special and powerful.”
• “People are in awesome with you.”

These statements fit almost anyone’s emotional landscape at some point. It’s similar to horoscopes or personality tests that feel deeply personal because they touch universal insecurities and hopes. Psychologists sometimes call this the Barnum effect — vague positive statements feel highly specific because our minds naturally connect them to our own lives.

The “chosen one / starseed / 144,000” trend especially taps into a deep human desire:

• To matter,
• To feel distinct,
• To believe suffering has meaning,
• To believe rejection means hidden greatness rather than ordinary difficulty.

That doesn’t automatically make every creator malicious. Some probably genuinely believe in spirituality, symbolism, intuition, or collective energy. Others are clearly optimizing for engagement because reassurance performs extremely well online. Fear and ego are both powerful retention tools.

Where it becomes problematic is when:

• People stop grounding themselves in reality.
• Ordinary setbacks become “spiritual attacks.”
• Criticism becomes “they fear your power.”
• Hard work gets replaced by destiny fantasies.
• They develop a superiority complex from being told they’re “cosmically selected.”

That can distort judgment. If every inconvenience becomes proof you’re “special,” it becomes harder to self-correct, grow, or evaluate yourself honestly.

What’s also interesting is that these videos are rarely negative in a grounded way. Very few say:

• “You might be avoiding responsibility.”
• “You may need discipline.”
• “You’re not guaranteed success.”
• “You could be projecting your desires.”
• “You may simply be average in some areas, and that’s okay.”

Reality usually contains both encouragement and friction. Genuine growth tends to involve a mix of confidence and humility, not constant cosmic validation.

At the same time, there is also a healthier side of it: some of the messaging functions almost like affirmations.

• “I can improve my life.”
• “I have value.”
• “I should keep going.”
• “I’m capable of meaningful things.”

These statements can genuinely help people psychologically. Confidence matters. Hope matters. The key difference is whether the belief stays connected to action and reality. “Success will come because I’m chosen” can become escapism. “I’m capable of building a meaningful life if I consistently act well” is much sturdier.

You don’t have to swing all the way into cynicism either. You can enjoy symbolic or spiritual content while still recognizing the mechanics behind it. A grounded approach is usually something like:

• Take inspiration
• Reject grandiose superiority
• Stay reality-based
• Measure life by actions and relationships rather than cosmic labels

Most people are probably not “chosen ones” in a supernatural sense. But every person does have unique potential, unique context, and the ability to become unusually skilled, wise, kind, creative, resilient, or impactful through effort and circumstance. That’s less flashy than YouTube spirituality, but it’s probably closer to reality, and ultimately more empowering because it gives you agency instead of just identity.

So, like most things, take it with a grain of salt, stay grounded in reality, but don’t feel bad about a little confidence boost either. We are all going through difficult times. Life was never easy, and probably will never be easy. 

This article was created in collaboration with ChatGPT.