Seeing Through the 'Smoke & Mirrors": How to Stay Aligned, Aware, and Authentic in the Age of (Mis)Informatiproon & Manipulation
- Erin
- Feb 21, 2024
- 17 min read
Updated: Jul 12
"This, my dear is the greatest challenge: To be alive, to witness injustice in the world and not allow it to consume our light."
Thich Nhat Hahn
In times of crisis—whether personal, political, societal, or global—it’s easy to feel untethered, reacting to the storm around you rather than acting from your deepest truth. Fear, uncertainty, and urgency can pull you away from your center, making it tempting to abandon your values, instincts, or inner knowing for the sake of survival or conformity. But moments of upheaval don’t just test us—they also offer an opportunity to become more of who we truly are.
The Chinese I Ching, or ancient Book of Changes, teaches us that chaos and crisis, shocks and upheavals are inevitable, natural parts of life’s cycles, offering opportunity for us to act with love rather than fear, wisdom rather than impulse. It reminds us that we must cultivate stillness within and trust the divine flow of change.
How do you remain authentic and self-aware when everything around you feels unpredictable? How do you ensure that, in responding to chaos, you don’t lose yourself in it? In this post, we’ll explore practical ways to stay grounded, present, and aligned with your core self—even in the most turbulent times.
"I cannot bear to see what's happening but I also feel a responsibility to witness it in real time. It would be a betrayal to humanity to ignore it, to turn away."
Acknowledging & Accepting Reality
We live in an era marked by crisis: cost of living, debt, housing, climate, unemployment, ecology, public health, education, transportation—the list goes on. These problems are not random; they stem from a society where money rules every system. Those at the top, driven by endless greed, see crisis not as a warning but as an opportunity for profit. As long as capitalism remains unchecked, the cycle of crisis and exploitation will continue.
Predatory capitalism thrives on for-profit models of healthcare, utilities, education, housing, and even war. The result is a world where inequality is systemic, benefiting a select few while limiting humanity’s full potential. To maintain control, those in power manipulate information, discourage critical thinking, foster economic dependency, and undermine personal well-being, creativity, and empathy.
Just as nature renews through cycles of decay and rebirth, we must shed outdated systems that no longer serve humanity. The chaos we see is part of a larger cycle, akin to the ancient concept of Yin and Yang, where opposites exist in balance. One cannot exist without the other. While we are experiencing upheaval, history shows that the pendulum will eventually swing in another direction.
The word "Apocalypse" stems from the Greek apokálypsis, meaning an "unveiling" or "revelation." In this light, it is not merely destruction but an uncovering of hidden truths, an opportunity for transformation.
The Dopamine Culture/ Economy
We’re no longer in an era defined by creativity, intellectualism, art or entertainment—we’ve entered the age of distraction and addiction, engineered and exploited by tech platforms for profit. They make money when we are endlessly scrolling, swiping, and compulsively consuming short-form content.
Algorithmic media platforms like Apple, Google, Meta and others profiting from behavioral addiction. They have restructured themselves around brief, dopamine-driven hits, exploiting our brain’s chemical reward system. Their goal is to trap users into continuing to use maximize time on platform, immersing them deeper in the stimulus loop.
These addictive loops lead to anhedonia—the inability to feel joy, especially common in tech-heavy societies. The result is a zombified culture: doomscrolling, trolling, gaslighting, and constant low-level despair and high-functioning depression and anxiety.
Today our biggest threat to creativity, happiness, and vitality isn't censorship or bad taste—it's the "dopamine cartel" of tech companies who have created addiction by design. Instead of creating, we consume. Instead of connecting, we scroll.
Recognizing Manipulation & Social Engineering
Fear is used as a weapon to keep people divided, but recognizing our shared humanity reminds us that, at our core, we all seek the same things: safety, security, health, happiness, and prosperity for our loved ones. The key difference is in our approach—some pursue these only for themselves, while others work toward collective well-being.
Approach the chaos with "high indifference." Take it in, don't take it on. Observe, don't absorb.
In order to stay truthful in the age of misinformation, we must first recognize and understand the tactics those in power rely on to create division, confusion, and exhaustion. By understanding these methods used to control social and political narratives., we can resist manipulation and think critically about the messages we consume:
Propaganda: Spreading false or misleading information to influence public perception.
Gaslighting: Making people question their perception of reality.
Fear Mongering: Instilling fear to manipulate actions and beliefs.
Love Bombing: Overwhelming with praise to create dependency.
Priming: Using subtle cues to shape opinions and behaviors.
Social Proof: Manipulating perceived popularity to influence decisions.
Scarcity: Creating false urgency to drive impulsive actions.
Mindless Obedience: Conditioning people to follow authority without questioning.
Isolation & Control: Restricting access to information and support systems.
They want you tired. They want you afraid. They want you hopeless. Because hopeless people don't vote, don't speak, don't organize, don't rise.
The Principles of Propaganda
Joseph Goebbels was Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda. Scholars and historians have distilled his tactics and methods based on his speeches, writings, and actions.
Oversimplification
Reduce complex issues to simple, catchy slogans. Distill complex issues into black-and-white choices, and good vs evil narratives, eliminating nuance.
Repetition
Repeat the same consistent message over and over. The more often a lie is repeated, the more it is accepted as truth. The bigger and more outrageous the lie, the more likely people are to believe it.
Emotion
Use fear, anger, pride, or hope to drive the message and override logic or critical analysis.
Enemy
Create a clear, identifiable scapegoat to blame problems on and unite people against a common villain or threat.
Mass Appeal
Target messages to the broadest possible audience and channels, using popular culture, symbols, and language that people already relate to.
Diversion
Distract the public from critical issues by focusing attention on irrelevant or inflammatory topics.
Timing
Deliver consistent messages at key moments and across all channels to maximize their impact.
Control
Dominate all forms of media and communication — press, radio, posters, education — to control the narrative.
Projection
Accuse others of what you yourself are doing, deflecting criticism by shifting blame to the enemy or another third party.
"You speak out not to change their mind, but so that they don’t change you."
Living Your Truth
Society - churches, families and workplaces - conditions people to follow the path of least resistance- staying quite and hidden. The masses are taught to seek external validation while remaining disconnected from their true selves. The more we know ourselves and embody our authenticity outwardly, the less likely we are to be controlled, molded or manipulated into something we're not.
Despite the chaos, we hold tremendous collective power. Our power lies in our ability to take control of our mind, body, spirit, and actions. . The world needs more leaders who operate from a place of alignment. The moment we align our thoughts, emotions, and actions, we become a force against illusions designed to keep us small.
The drive to share ideas and information is a huge advantage in this new earth because collaboration, innovation, and collective wisdom are the keys to building a more just, conscious, and interconnected world.
The ND Perspective
Neurodivergent thinkers often share information not out of arrogance or superiority, but because our brains are wired for curiosity, connection, and pattern recognition. We find genuine joy in exchanging ideas, uncovering truths, and exploring complex systems.
As all of the outdated, oppressive systems crumble, those who can synthesize knowledge, challenge the status quo, and inspire others to think critically will help shape the future. In a world that thrives on connection and transformation, the ability to communicate insights isn’t just valuable—it’s essential.
For many of us, keeping insights to ourselves feels unnatural. Our minds are constantly making connections, synthesizing information, and recognizing patterns that others might overlook. When we learn something profound or important, we instinctively want to share it—not to show off, but because it excites us and aligns with our values of truth and justice. Sharing isn’t about proving anything—it’s about the thrill of discovery and the belief that knowledge should be accessible to everyone.
It's important for us to realize however that many people simply aren’t driven by the same hunger for knowledge. Some lesser evolved people prefer comfortable ignorance over new challenges and growth. While we see information as a tool for empowerment and change, others may see it as disruptive or even threatening. This disconnect can make it frustrating when our enthusiasm is met with indifference or defensiveness, but it’s a reminder that not everyone engages with the world the way we do—and that’s okay.
Remember: You're hard to control when you're healthy. You're hard to manipulate when you're clear-headed. You're hard to influence when you're grounded. You're hard to convince when you're sovereign. You're hard to divide when you're connected.
Education is Everything
In an age where information spreads faster than ever, the ability to think critically is not just a skill—it’s a form of psychological self-defense.
Propaganda and misinformation thrive on emotional manipulation, repetition, and social pressure, making education and awareness essential to cultivate psychological resilience. The battle against misinformation is not just external; it’s internal, requiring each of us to stay vigilant, challenge our own biases, and defend truth as if our freedom depends on it—because it does.
What does this look like?
commiting to lifelong learning
engaging in uncomfortable conversations,
avoiding the lure of easy, convenient answers that confirm our biases
questioning narratives,
verifying sources,
cultivating intellectual humility—the willingness to change one’s perspective when faced with credible evidence
embracing nuance rather than reacting impulsively to sensational claims.
recognizing when fear or outrage is being weaponized to cloud judgment
diversifying news sources
fact-checking before sharing
recognizing when narratives are designed to divide rather than inform
Propaganda does not always seek to persuade; often, it aims to exhaust people into apathy and indifference, making them disengage and disconnect altogether. However a key defense against this is understanding that truth is often inconvenient and complex.
Taking Aligned Action
The current system thrives on overwhelming the public into submission. Recognizing this tactic allows us to counteract it with strategic, informed, and persistent resistance. Instead of reacting with fear, respond with clarity and intention. True cultural renewal requires moving beyond politics and confronting these tech-driven systems of control and profit. Be a part of the SOLUTION, not the problem.
Look at the Big Picture
Real issues are rarely simple. If a message feels overly black-and-white or repeated over and over, investigate further to learn about it's complexity and nuances. Complex problems require complex solutions.
We can categorize the threats to our democracy and also understand their antidotes:
Disinformation --> Amplify Accurate Info
Divisiveness --> Build Community
Distraction --> Stay focused
Disengagement --> Stay in the fight
Take breaks, but don't check out entirely. Don't abandon the cause! Remember to take action through civic engagement in all its various forms - making your voice heard, sharing resources etc
The Sacred Pause
Propaganda thrives on emotional hijacking. Pausing intentionally can help you decipher fact from fiction, and observe not absorb. Check in with yourself as you're consuming, or before re-sharing a headline for amplification. Ask yourself
Is this designed to make me scared, angry, or overly confident?
Is the claim is backed up by reputable, independent sources, or is it just repeated loudly?
Are individuals or groups being unfairly blamed as "the problem"?
Am I learning something new?
Am I feeling moved to take action?
Am I being connected to resources?
Am I feeling dread, hopelessness or overwhelm?
Power lies with those who own the land, the corporations, the media, and the government. They don’t want a society of free thinkers — they want obedience, consumerism, and control. We've all been conditioned to give up our sovereignty. It’s time to break free from systems built to keep us asleep. Think critically, stay awake and reclaim your mind. Be a loving, conscious human in a world that profits off fear and ignorance.
Diversify Your Information Diet
Just like a healthy diet, consuming diverse information is good for you! Follow credible news from multiple perspectives. Avoid echo chambers. Diversify your news sources, away from platforms that reward doomscrolling, sensationalism, rage-bait and misinformation. Visit reputable (unbiased) news sites directly, subscribe to their newsletters and listen to broadcasts/podcasts.
Fear is not the enemy. It's your compass forward.
Reframe & Redirect
Sometimes we must flip the script and shift the narrative about our panic and fear in order to see the bigger picture. Metacognition (thinking about thinking) can interrupt our negative thoughts and help reclaim your power and agency, reframing our experience from a different angle or lens.
Instead of. "I'm overwhelmed" , try "My fear is pointing towards what I value and care about most"
Instead of "Everything is falling apart," try, "My brain is spiraling to the worst case scenario in order keep me safe from harm"
Instead of "There's nothing I can do", try "There is always one small thing I can do right now that aligns with my values"
Instead of" Why amI having such a hard time with this?", try "This response was built during a time when I was in survival mode, but I can choose differently now"
Instead of "I can't handle this" try "This is a newfound clarity and perspective- the dismantling of illusions, not the downfall of me. "
Be Your Biggest, Boldest Self
Now is not the time to shrink in silence. Trust your intuition. Lean into your inner strength. Speak out. Speak your truth. Share your stories. Stay vigilant, stay hopeful, and most importantly, stay true to yourself - your values, beliefs, morals, ethics, preferences and passions.
"The single best way to resist fascism is not let them terrorize you. Protect your mental health and keep connected with who you are at your core. Be the strong willed child they never saw coming. We build capacity to resist by being exactly who we are!"
DL Mayfield
Pick a Cause & Commit
There are leaders and movements actively working toward change. Find them, amplify their message, and contribute in any way you can. Whether through financial support, volunteering, or spreading awareness, take consistent action. After all, inaction breeds apathy.
You're not crazy. You're not weak. You're awake. Breathe. Stand. Speak.
Tune Out the Noise
The barrage of negative news is designed to create despair. Filter out distractions and focus on what truly matters. Unplug intentionally—go outside, notice trees, spend time away from devices.
Ditch the screens and talk to people (friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, strangers)- IRL. Connect on the human level, and not just about current events. This is how we build community and cultivate empathy.
Lastly, intentionally seek out good news and uplifting headlines.
“Some companies get people hooked with pills and needles. Others with apps and algorithms.”
Ted Gioia
Rest & Rejuvenate
Fighting for truth requires a strong mind and body. Prioritize rest, creativity, and self-care to maintain resilience.
Repeat Affirmations
"I am immune to division and distraction."
"My discernment is at an all-time high."
"Manipulative programming is meaningless, imperceptible and irrelevant to me."
"I only attract energies and information that is beneficial to my ascension, abundance and alignment."
Follow Your Compass
The Ten Commitments from the American Humanist Association are a modern ethical framework or virtues for living ethically and compassionately. These are lifelong, active practices — not fixed beliefs — that heart-led humanists can adopt to live meaningful, ethical, and socially responsible lives for ultimate self-sovereignty and higher consciousness.
Critical Thinking: Seek evidence, question assumptions, and think independently. Be a curious, lifelong learner.
Ethical Development: Continually strive to improve your moral reasoning and ethical behavior, speaking your truth with honesty and integrity
Peace and Social Justice: Recognize and address injustice. Work toward resolving conflict nonviolently and promoting respect, equality and equity (fairness) for all people.
Service and Participation: Engage actively and creatively in your communities and contribute to the well-being of others. Creativity supports problem-solving, innovation, and ethical growth.
Empathy: Develop and Practice understanding and compassion for others' experiences, feelings, and perspectives.
Humility: Acknowledge your limitations and remain open to new ideas and correction.
Environmentalism: Care for and protect the natural world for current and future generations.
Global Awareness: Recognize the interconnectedness of all people and nations. Celebrate differences in cultures
Responsibility: Accept responsibility for your actions and their consequences.
Altruism: Act selflessly for the benefit of others, contributing to the greater good.
“It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.”
Thomas Sowell
A Word of Caution
When people feel knowledgeable despite being uninformed, they are unlikely to be receptive to logic or truth. Their internal bias, their ego, their sense of righteousness and emotional investment in their beliefs can make them resistant to new information, no matter how well-reasoned or evidence-based it may be.
Don't waste your time trying to engage in meaningful discussion or discourse with individuals who are more interested in clinging to their own beliefs and affirming their own stance rather than in finding common ground or mutual understanding.
May the strongest and smartest of us rise victorious. May the best of us – the ones they wrongly believe are the worst of us– not only survive, but also thrive. May those they underestimate conquer all odds and flourish.
“But there’s a reason. There’s a reason education sucks, and it’s the same reason that it will never, ever, ever be fixed. It’s never gonna get any better. Don’t look for it. Be happy with what you got. Because the owners of this country don't want that. I'm talking about the real owners now, the real owners, the big wealthy business interests that control things and make all the important decisions.
Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought and paid for the senate, the congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear.
They got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying, lobbying, to get what they want. Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I'll tell you what they don’t want: They don’t want well-informed, well-educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That's against their interests.
They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table to figure out how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago. They don’t want that.
You know what they want? They want obedient workers. Obedient workers. People who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork, and just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and the vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it all from you, sooner or later, 'cause they own this fucking place.
It's a big club, and you ain’t in it. You and I are not in the big club. And by the way, it's the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head in their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table is tilted folks. The game is rigged, and nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care.
Good honest hard-working people -- white collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on -- good honest hard-working people continue -- these are people of modest means -- continue to elect these rich ---suckers who don’t give a f--- about them.
They don't care about you at all -- at all -- at all. And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. That's what the owners count on; the fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white and blue dick that's being jammed up their assholes everyday. Because the owners of this country know the truth: it's called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”
George Carlin
The Shift is Here
When you really get still and quiet you will finally start to see it: The systems, the rules, the lies, the endless noise... it's all part of the matrix, the machine, the performance.
But life is not about escaping it or rising above it - it is about seeing through it without getting lost in it. We we are a part of it and must live with that responsibility. We must hold the frequency of love even when the rest of the world forgets. That's the real power: Not to fight the illusion but to walk through it as the one who still remembers the truth.
The world is changing quickly, and clinging to outdated fear-based narratives, systems and structures only delays the inevitable transformation we need to thrive.
As more people awaken to the realities of misinformation and manipulation, we inch closer to a collective quantum leap, an upleveling, a paradigm shift. The most powerful act of resistance is to remain conscious, connected, and aligned with your authentic self.
Those who can bravely, creatively imagine something better will be the ones who shape the future. Every conscious action, no matter how small, contributes to a larger movement of transformation.
The new earth is calling, and it is built by those who dare to dream the impossible dream.
We will outshine them, and outsmart them in the end. The key is to keep your vibration high, and your awareness even higher. Education, knowledge and information are POWER. They are the shields against their attempts to manipulate, control and divide communities.
"This moment that humanity is living through can be considered a door or a hole. The decision to fall into the hole or go through the door is yours. If you consume information 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into this hole. But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and others, you will go through the door... When we walk in the door, we have a new view of the world because we have faced our fears and difficulties. Adopt the perspective of an eagle that sees everything from above with a broader vision...Also learn to resist by the example of the Indian and African peoples: we have been and continue to be exterminated. But we never stopped singing, dancing, lighting fires and having joy."
Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle
Two limbs of the same monster distracting us while it feasts upon the world.
Separation is its mechanism.
Control is its motivation.
Luckily, this entity is made completely of shadows, tricks, and outdated mythologies
And it's time is expiring.
It dissolves in the piercing gaze of the Dark Mother.
We must compost the dying culture and midwife the new.
Meanwhile, women continue birthing and bleeding the world alive.
Meanwhile, men are remembering how to weep.
Meanwhile the wind blows, carrying away the ashes.
Meanwhile, the Earth and Her power burns on.
"However you might be coping with the loss and the shock, it’s very important that you know what they’re trying to do. What they want most is to take away our hope. If they can make us hopeless, they win everything. If they can abscond with our hope, we will stop fighting for a more just society, stop defending those who are most vulnerable to them, stop protecting what’s left of our democracy. If they can destroy our hope, we won’t join together to try to stop them. They will get it all....So even if you don’t feel it now at all — don’t lose hope. Find green shoots of hope wherever you can. Appreciate them. Keep hope strong. Keep hope alive. Don’t let them take it away."
Rob Reich
More Quotes on Education, Awareness, Sovereignty
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” — George Orwell
“He who controls the media, controls the mind.” — Jim Morrison
“The only way to deal with this world is to be so thoroughly aware of how it works that you are never taken in by its lies.”— Noam Chomsky
"It is easier to fool people than to convince them they've been fooled." -Mark Twain
“You must always be skeptical, always questioning. The moment you stop, you become a pawn in someone else’s game.”— Carl Sagan
“Truth never goes viral. Lies and propaganda do. Because truth doesn’t entertain, it confronts. It comes with conviction. It demands accountability. It calls for action. And that’s why it’s often ignored…but never silenced. Speak truth anyway.” --Dr. Dwayne Buckingham
"There is a difference between being informed and being consumed. Act compassionately. Advocate strategically. Avoid futile commentary " -- Bernice A. King
"Reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all the trash that’s being manufactured out of the bones of a dying world."--Terence McKenna
Erin is a certified feng shui consultant, energy healer, wellness coach and holistic growth strategist.
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