Today’s world seems increasingly polarized, vindictive attacks flying everywhere.

I often ask myself, “What can I do — what is within my power — to be a lasting change to the conflicts I see around me?”

Long have authors, thinkers, and leaders opined on this exact question. And across the ages, in their words, we can see a resonant belief that lasting social change comes first in gaining control over ourselves.

I am sharing here my 7 favorite quotes on this topic. I hope they resonate with you on why mastery of self is the first step and greatest step on the journey to improving our world:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

In one of the most oft-referenced quotes on this topic, this former first lady stresses that we hold control over how we respond to others, which no one can take away from us without our consent.

"No one can hurt me without my permission." — M.K. Gandhi

While others can hurt us physically, we have control over our perception of pain and the extent to which we are pained.

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

Focus on what you can control. Once you realize and accept what is in your sphere of control it will both set you free and empower you. By focusing on what you have control over — growing your skills — you grow your ability to influence the world around you.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” — Viktor E. Frankl

Frankl’s beliefs on human attributes are infamous and have been quoted across many different sources, from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to TEDx Talks on effective communication.

Frankl believed that while others might have the power to take away our physical freedom, such as through imprisonment, the way in which we see and perceive our situations is the ultimate and intrinsic freedom which no one can take away from us. 

“He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty.” — Lao Tzu

Inherent strength comes through self-mastery. While all other possessions might be stripped away — titles, riches, etc — that once one has mastered himself or herself, it cannot be stripped away and they can weather any storm.

“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” — Epictetus

While hardships come and go, it’s our reaction to those challenges that dictates their significance to us. 

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.” — Aldous Huxley

It’s our nature as humans to want to change our environments, mold our surroundings to accommodate our desires. 

In trying to bend ecosystems to our will our actions invariably have lasting and wide-reaching repercussions. 

However, the natural order of the universe is entropy, constantly unraveling back to its natural state of disorder.

The single greatest area where each incremental investment yields lasting reward is when we focus on improving ourselves.