No, Dear Reader, I am not talking about literal hijackings. There was a thriller-show on Apple TV, called “Hijack”, featuring Idris Elba in the main role. He was on a hijacked plane in Season 1, and a train in Season 2. (I won’t get into how he got hijacked twice.) His character’s name was Sam, and he had to use his negotiating skills and smarts to beat the Bad Guys and their nefarious plans. Here’s the link, if interested: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/hijack/umc.cmc.1dg08zn0g3zx52hs8npoj5qe3
Without giving away the plot, Sam was in a situation where he was at the mercy of the villains. Their agenda was paramount, and all he could do was use his wits to try to stop them. This got me thinking about how we might get “hijacked” too. But we don’t get hijacked by terrorists, hopefully.
I think we sometimes can get “hijacked” by our emotions and thoughts.
We can get caught in the “rapids” of old feelings and mindsets, and hence the picture for today’s post. I wrote about the “Unholy Trinity” of Ego, Expectations, and Myths some time ago. I am thinking now how we let ourselves get “caught up” in what we want to have happen, our opinions, or our “stories” about what is happening. Link to that trilogy: https://align-with-love.com/2026/03/09/the-unholy-trinity/
I think it is a rare soul who never gets disrupted by their emotions to some degree. I know I get very disrupted by my emotions! I know I can get stuck in “thought loops”, and get “frozen” in fear or anger by some occurrence. I can get stuck ruminating on a future potential conversation or confrontation. What if “they” say this or that? Maybe I feel their request or demand is unfair, or inconsiderate. Maybe I am afraid “they” will be upset, or angry. Childhood trauma can come into play here, if we witnessed violence in our homes, were abused, or manipulated. We can bring these hurts to current interactions with a spouse, child, friend, or coworker. We may take an interaction and blow it way out of proportion in our minds, not realizing that the other person meant something else, or quickly forgot about it. But we didn’t, and are still stewing over it.
As said before: Breathe in those moments. Take some deeper breaths. Sometimes that misunderstanding has put your body back in “fight or flight” mode, and we need to reset. Then we need to review the Ego, Expectations, and Myths of the situation.
Ego: What was I wanting/needing in the situation? How was I hoping to be treated? Did that phone call go “off the rails”? What might be the other person’s Ego wishes in the exchange? What might be the larger issues? Did we talk when we were both tired or “charged up” about other things? I have seen some exchanges with my teenage son go badly, as I entered them upset about other things that had nothing to do with him, and I started verbally lashing out. (No, that was not OK.) I had to get a hold of myself, apologize, and start listening. But I was already “hijacked” by other concerns!
Expectations: What was my hope of how the exchange would go? Be specific. Did I want a deadline extended? Did I think the household chores would be more evenly distributed? Did I think lunch was at 2, and my friend had 3 in their phone? Did I want that other person to be more considerate of me and my feelings? Have I thought about how I may be expecting too much from someone, or that they have no clue how I really feel?
Myths (Narratives): This one is where a lot of the “hijacking” takes place. We may carry unprocessed hurts, beliefs, or memories into a relationship or interaction. The violence from my Father’s alcoholism I experienced as a child can still pop up in my day-to-day interactions. I can feel unreasonably fearful about making a mistake, or get overly-angry about what someone said or did. I believe I am sometimes filtering these interactions through that trauma, and also trying to appease a dad that is now been dead for years! (I am not a therapist or counselor, but have done some work on these things, and believe this is some of what goes on with me.) It may be similar with you. If you see patterns of dysfunction or unhealthy reactions to people and situations over and over again–get help.
As I have said, my religious practice is Christianity. I have written how I practice a “re-imagined” Christianity, that is rooted in the ancient Church, not dogmatic, and open to the Spirit’s leading. I think when we get in these emotional states, we can also get “hijacked” by the Devil. Yes, if you are not religious, and have been reading along, you are rolling your eyes. I am not one to see the Devil or evil spirits behind every tree, but when we see terrible violence in our culture, such as mass shootings, did that person perhaps get “hijacked”? Did their misperceptions so warp their thinking that they were very susceptible to influence from evil entities? I am not absolving people of personal responsibility, or falling into the “Devil made me do it”!
But Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John’s Gospel, 10:10, NIV)
Do we give access to the Thief (Devil) when we let ourselves get too caught up in our own thoughts and feelings? I believe I have. No, I was not plotting to shoot people, but I got stuck in my own ruminations, and started to think very unhealthily about how I would live my life. Maybe I took a bad day at my job, and started to conclude I was “bad” at accounting, and should quit my job. I could go down that rabbit-hole, or realize that somedays I may make mistakes, and tomorrow is another day. I am not saying one should not change jobs or whatever, but we should not chase a Narrative that is simply not true!
Another failed romance may not be proof that you are unattractive or damaged goods! It just may mean you and the other person had too many issues that could not be resolved. If we don’t address our Egos, Expectations, and Myths with each other we will get “stuck” in cycles of misunderstanding and blaming. I would argue that a lot of America is stuck here politically!
The difference with this emotional/mental hijacking is that there are not guns or planes involved. You can escape. You can choose to change your unhealthy, repetitive reactions to sane responses, and you can get out of the crazy. The crazy may be in your own head, or it may be a family or work situation. I know it is not always easy! A job change, or just leaving your family issues, may not be possible, practical, or even right, at the moment. But we can change ourselves.
I just wrote last week to ask God: “Show me, guide me, lead me. “ I am becoming increasingly convinced this is one of the most powerful prayers we can pray, regardless of our religious, or non-religious affiliation!
We can ask to be shown ourselves and our part in the situation. Do we listen, or even ask why so-and-so is late? Do we ask how we could be helpful to that person that is struggling? Do we ever say: Can we discuss this then? Can we ask to be guided to have more compassion on ourselves and others? So much is going on we are not aware of in ourselves and others that are coming up in our conversations and interactions. This is where therapy, counseling, and pastoring is needed, so we can see ourselves better, and others too. Then we can ask to be led. We may be very surprised to find that “Sense” of God/HigherPower I wrote about, giving us a kinder word, or patience, or some compassion that stops the hijacking.
God can land our “emotional planes and trains”. We don’t need Idris Elba to save the day, with no disrespect to his terrific acting. Let God help, even if you long gave up on religion. He/She is not all that you were taught. God is not out to “get you”, condemn you, or send you to hell. God is for you. Does He/She have some thoughts about how to live-yes, I believe so. And one of those things is to not be hijacked by your own mind and feelings. One of those things is to learn how to be Aligned with Love.
As I so often say: watch yourself, and see where you might be getting stuck in thought-loops or emotional states. You can ask God to “un-stick” you, too! Try it. I wasted years of my life being hijacked by my own mind. I want to live differently, and I know God will help. He already has.
God will help you too. Promise. He wants you to have “life to the full”, as John wrote. That does not mean riches and fame, but peace, sanity, True Connection, and True Alignment with Love.
-Eric, the Wordsmith
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