Haanel wrote

Harmony in the world within will be reflected in the world without
by harmonious conditions, agreeable surroundings, the best of everything.

Haanel has already told us that the world outside ourselves is a reflection of the world within. (point 8). He now expands on that concept. You will only know harmony in the world outside yourself when you experience harmony within yourself. If you think about that for just a few moments you will accept the truth of what Haanel says.
When you are not at peace in your own sense of being, then you are in a constant state of angst, where your body is in a constant state of readiness for fight or flight, which are the two instinctual responses to danger. Depending on your personality and your upbringing, whenever you find yourself even slightly challenged, you will choose one of those two options.
So, someone bumps you as you walk down the street. If you are in a state of conflict within yourself you will see that simple act as a sign of aggression. Your immediate reaction is to turn and size up the “challenger”, which is what the other person has become.
Chances are, they are doing the same! In a volatile situation like that it only takes the smallest of sparks to set a blaze of inappropriately expressed anger.
That is even more the case when the two of you are in cars. Road rage is rife within the community in which I live, even to the point of people being killed for having driven at the speed limit!
But Haanel focuses on the other end of the scale. When you are comfortable with who you are, when you fit comfortably in your own skin, you will find that the world outside yourself is bright and fresh and new. And no, he’s not referring to some drug induced fantasy world of bright colours and the like.
Rather, he speaks of a world that is seen from an at-peace perspective. Such a world does exist for those who are at peace with who they are in themselves. It’s a perspective that accepts the world is far from perfect, that you, yourself, are far from perfect but at this moment in time you are you would not choose to be anyone or anywhere else.
It’s a perspective that does not see you in competition with others; that does not compare yourself with others; but truly admires and applauds the abilities and accomplishments of others.
It’s a perspective that does not focus on your own limitations, but rejoices in what you are able to do well. At the same time it also recognises that there is so much more that is available that you have yet to experience that you look forward to the future with anticipation.
It’s a perspective that finds enjoyment in the simple things in life, like a magnificent sunset, the unconditional love of a puppy, the fragile vulnerability of a new born baby.
In short, a world where life is really worth living and you choose to squeeze as much out of it as you possibly can.
It’s a world, or a perspective on the world, that is available to all who dare to take the journey to the world within.

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