The Storm of Panic: How Manufactured Crises Keep Society on Edge

My response to Cyclone Alfred

In times of uncertainty, when the news bombards us with updates about looming disasters—whether a cyclone, a pandemic, or an economic collapse—it’s easy to get caught up in the hysteria. Governments and media outlets fuel this state of suspense, keeping society on edge, waiting for the next announcement, the next directive, the next “solution” to a crisis that they themselves often amplify.

This pattern is not new. A threat is introduced, anxiety is generated, and then the same authorities who create the panic present themselves as the saviors. Through this cycle, people’s emotions, behaviors, and even their sense of reality are placed in the hands of those who control the narrative. When society is collectively holding its breath, it becomes easy to lead it in any direction.

But what if we stepped back? What if, instead of succumbing to fear, we remained steady—choosing to act only when the crisis becomes real rather than reacting to the endless stream of updates?

The Bhagavad-gītā offers a powerful perspective on this:

“yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete puruṣaṁ puruṣarṣabha

sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ so ’mṛtatvāya kalpate”

(Bhagavad-gītā 2.15)

“O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.”

A person who remains composed amidst external turbulence—whether it be a literal storm or a manufactured crisis—retains control over their own mind and actions. They are not easily swayed by fear, nor do they allow external forces to dictate their reality.

Instead of letting panic dictate our lives, we can choose to stay grounded. Until a storm is physically at our doorstep, there is no need to adjust our entire life around the endless updates and warnings. We can acknowledge risks without being consumed by them. When action is necessary, we take it—not because we were manipulated into fear, but because we made a conscious decision to respond appropriately.

True power lies not in those who create crises, but in those who refuse to be controlled by them.