Second Sunday 1/11/26:

Emotion vs. Fact

Reflections on Self-Mastery, Emotional Clarity, and Empowered Living

Time is moving swiftly. It feels as if I just wrote my first Sunday post—and yet here we are again, seven days into the unfolding of 2026. Life is indeed fleeting, but each moment carries within it the chance to pause, to reflect, and to choose again.

This past week brought unexpected challenges—new, interesting, and revealing. Through them, I was reminded of a timeless truth: I cannot control the actions or emotions of others. I can only govern myself. And that is not a weakness. It is power.

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible” (Maltz, 1960, p. 26).

I Am the Conductor

Life offers us tracks, paths, and intersections. But the train? That is mine. I am the conductor of my own train—responsible for how I respond, what I choose to believe, and how I move forward.

While I can offer empathy and compassion to those around me, I must also recognize when to detach from their storms. Sympathy does not mean surrendering my own peace. As Doreen Virtue (2003) reminds us, “You are not responsible for others’ happiness, only your own” (p. 57).

Emotion vs. Fact

When challenges arise, I am learning to pause and examine the situation with clarity:

• What are the facts?

• What stories am I telling myself about this?

• What can I choose to release emotionally before I act?

This is not about detachment from humanity, but rather a deep commitment to emotional integrity. Emotions are powerful teachers, but they must not be allowed to steer the entire train.

Robert Hare, a renowned psychologist in the study of emotion and behavior, observed that unchecked emotional reactions can blur our ability to perceive reality: “Emotional impulses often hijack rational thought before it has the chance to intervene” (Hare, 1993, p. 108).

Thus, discernment becomes a sacred practice.

Ready for the Lessons

This year has only begun, and already, it is teaching me. I welcome the lessons. I honor the discomfort. I trust that even challenges come bearing gifts.

“Change your self-image and you change your personality and your behavior” (Maltz, 1960, p. 45).

Each Sunday is an invitation to renew my awareness. To re-choose power, peace, and presence. And so, this week, I affirm:

“I am the conductor of my own train. I honor my emotions, examine the facts, and move forward with clarity and grace.”

Reflection Prompts for You:

• Where in your life are you giving away the conductor’s seat?

• What would it feel like to observe a situation without being consumed by it?

• What is one emotional story you can rewrite this week?

References

Hare, R. D. (1993). Without conscience: The disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. Guilford Press.

Maltz, M. (1960). Psycho-cybernetics: A new way to get more living out of life. Prentice-Hall.

Virtue, D. (2003). Messages from your angels: What your angels want you to know. Hay House.