The hurricane is days away. Plywood decorates even the most protected of houses. In the grocery store, shelves are looted — carts overflow with enough water and canned goods to build a bomb shelter.
The sky shifts from blue to gray with a light, persistent rain. The forecast says it will hit as a Cat 3, dropping to a 1 over land, but in the news and on social media posts, you’d think it was Armageddon.
Every time a hurricane looms off the coast these days, histrionics precede it as inexorably as the drop in barometric pressure. It’s not helpful. If you’re in a vulnerable location, evacuate or prepare the best way you can. If you’re in a safe location, follow your plan and get on with the day.
This hurricane headspace reminds me of how people handle everything these days. Fear spreads. What’s with all the melodrama?
When I was a kid trying to stay balanced on my pony, my mom used to say, “Keep your mind in the middle.” The unspoken second part of that was, if your mind’s in the middle, you have a much better chance of keeping your butt on the horse.
Keep your mind in the middle.
Mary Mayfield Swanson
I think maintaining mental balance can guide us through today’s challenges, whether it’s hurricanes, climate change, political shenanigans, or the economy.
Whether it’s climate change, political chaos, or the latest economic scare, fear spreads faster than facts. People spiral into worst-case scenarios before they even understand what’s going on.
Sure, there are real problems — like hurricanes — but overreacting doesn’t help. Just like with a storm, don’t get sucked into unnecessary anxiety. If you’re constantly glued to the news or chasing the latest freak-out, it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind.
Keeping your mind in the middle means maintaining perspective. It means seeing things for what they are, not what social media or the latest headlines say they are. Challenges exist, but letting fear run your thoughts is like trying to stay on a wily pony while you worry about hitting the ground — you’re not going to stay on for long.
The truth is, as the noises grow louder and winds pick up, I get scared. Even though I’m trying to remain calm, even though I love regular thunderstorms. I know what a hurricane can take away. A home. A past. A naive sense of security.
But I don’t need to spend more hours churning through those fears before they arrive on my doorstep.
Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof.
Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof.
Matthew 6.34, Revised Standard Version
Perception vs. Reality
A big part of the problem is that fear often overtakes reality. People’s perceptions of disaster become stronger than what’s actually happening. Like the panic before a hurricane that hasn’t even hit, the fear of economic collapse, political disaster, or even technological advances can make things feel much worse than they are. When people are glued to the news or social media, the constant stream of fear-driven stories makes it hard to maintain perspective.
Take the fear of automation and AI taking over jobs, for example. While there are changes happening, the pace of automation isn’t as immediate or as devastating as it’s often portrayed. Similarly, despite declining crime rates, media coverage of violent crimes makes people believe that danger is ever-present. This disconnect between perception and reality can make manageable situations feel overwhelming.
The Emotional Cost of Overexposure
I care deeply about global events—wars, disasters, political issues—but I know my limits. I stay informed enough to know what’s happening, but I don’t let myself get dragged into the constant swirl of panic.
Studies show that chronic exposure to alarming news can lead to increased levels of anxiety and depression. We become paralyzed by fear of distant events rather than energized to address the challenges within our own control.
Data to Keep the Brain Straight Heroes
Kevin Drum
Kevin Drum helps me understand statistics. He’s great on the economy, and he’s the man who defined the lead-crime hypothesis.
Hans Rosling
The late, great Hans Rosling sets the record straight on population and so many other things. You can see more at www.gapminder.org. Gapminder’s great for sanity-induction in general.
Eric Topol
Eric Topol’s substack includes COVID stories.