We often think it’s the other way around–that if people around us were more peaceful, we’d be able to let go of many of our anxieties, fears, and struggles.

No one else causes our emotions. We are the ones deciding how to respond to the world we experience. We are the ones who choose what goes on in our heads and hearts. And we are the ones who decide whether to focus on all the obstacles to peace or to take responsibility for creating it.

Others may not always be peaceful–in fact, it’s a given that at any point in time, countless people will be in conflict, either with others or themselves. Learning to accept that is the first step toward knowing peace.