Friend, the world we see outside of ourselves is simply a reflection of the world that we have shaped and supported within. The world we experience is simply an extension of our minds. The level of stress or peace we experience in the world is in direct correlation to the level of stress or peace within our minds. The more at peace we are with ourselves, the more peaceful the world will appear to be. The more peace we have in our inner world, the more peace we will experience and extend to the outer world; whereas, the more stress we feel within, the more stress we will experience and extend into the outer world. The correlation here is not what is occurring in the world, but how we feel about ourselves within our minds. My friend, it is for this reason that we are asked to work on ourselves first. If we work on our minds, the rest will follow. As we change our thoughts and minds, we change our perceptions of the world and the way we react and participate in it. 

Throughout this book, I will make the following points repeatedly as I have done already: joy and peace are our natural states. If, in any situation, we are not at peace, it is because we have misperceived reality. We have lost our peace of mind, not because of some external force, but because of a simple misperception of reality. A reinterpretation of reality is all that is needed to obtain peace. Our interpretation of an event, not changing the event itself, accomplishes this. Realizing and acknowledging that we can do this with one event brings us closer to the realization and understanding that we can do this with all the events in our lives. Again, if we can find inner peace in one event by reinterpreting reality through our Godselves, the possibility becomes real that we can do this with any event in our lives. 

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop (1100 AD) in the crypts of Westminster Abbey and illustrate how one man recognized the importance of working on himself first:

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world."
 

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of the great spiritual / self development book You Have Chosen to Remember: A Journey from Perception to Knowledge, Peace of Mind and Joy by James Blanchard Cisneros.