To change what you get you must change who you are.

~ Vernon Howard

One of the primary allures of magic and superstition is the idea that such beliefs and practices can affect the world around us without our having to actually incorporate any change within ourselves. It gives the practitioner the illusion of power over things they cannot actually control, while reassuring them that they, themselves, will remain unchanged. But no genuine, lasting change works that way, supernatural or mundane. To improve your life or the world around you, the first thing you must do is look at how you must change: your habits, your health, your perspective, the society you keep.

People hope for intercession from supernatural powers because genuine, internal change is hard. There is no guarantee that it will even work out the way we anticipate or desire. Nonetheless, in order to move forward and actualize our goals and dreams, we have to invest the energy on ourselves first. Change from within is what actually drives external change.

I possess the strength to change my life. I invest the dedication, discipline, and energy in making self-improvement a priority, knowing that as I do so, I create positive change in my own life and the world around me.