self vs. self

Can a person overpower their instincts/emotions with cool logic? What is reality - is it what is commonly accepted as being real, or what is real in your own head? When is it okay to be selfish and demand things that may disregard some parts of "reality" (or "that's just how the world is")? Can these questions be answered while in an illogical/emotinal state? Should they be?

If only life were simpler.