Third Sunday 1/18/26: Centering Power in an Unpredictable World

What We Can Control, What We Must Release, and What We Are Becoming

These days, life feels like one long sequence of surprises. Plans are rewritten. Expectations dissolve. Stability shifts like sand. In moments like these, a sense of powerlessness can feel overwhelming.

But even as the world turns unpredictably, I am reminded that there is power within reach—a kind that is rooted not in controlling others or fixing every outcome, but in returning to myself. “The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself” (Plato, as cited in Rist, 2012, p. 77). Let Go of the "Shoulds" and "Coulds" When we spiral into thoughts of what should have happened, or what we could have done, we risk sinking into self-judgment, regret, and paralysis. That mental loop is a breeding ground for depression and despair. It pulls us away from presence, possibility, and clarity. Depression often feeds on comparison and control. “When you hold on to the need to control everything, you poison your spirit and block your healing” (Myss, 2002, p. 121). So what can we do? We breathe. We observe. We release the illusion of control—not to give up, but to focus our energy inward, where real influence begins.

Focus on What You Can Control

There is always a small circle of power available to us. Our attitudes, beliefs, responses, and visions—these are ours to shape. When we align our energy with what we can control, we experience the return of momentum and purpose. “The question is not who is going to let me; it is who is going to stop me” (Rand, 1961, p. 244). Ayn Rand’s bold reminder cuts through stagnation. It invites us to reclaim authorship of our own lives, even if everything around us feels chaotic. Envision the outcomes you desire. Speak the reality you want to create. Let your focus become an act of resilience. Let your vision become your offering to the future.

This Week, I Choose Centeredness

Though I may not be able to predict what tomorrow holds, I can choose to stay grounded in the present. I can commit to inner clarity and to nourishing my power from within. “I focus on what I can control. I envision outcomes that are aligned with peace, truth, and growth. I release the rest.”

Reflection Prompts for You:

• Where are you holding onto outcomes that are outside your control?

• What “shoulds” or “coulds” are weighing you down this week?

• What is one area where you can shift focus and regain momentum?

References

Myss, C. (2002). Sacred contracts: Awakening your divine potential. Harmony Books.

Rand, A. (1961). For the new intellectual: The philosophy of Ayn Rand. Random House.

Rist, J. M. (2012). Plato’s moral realism: The discovery of the philosophical concept of the good. CUA Press.