dear terri , generally and shortly said,

maybe the below mentioned is a little inspiration

The self determines with which enviromnment it wants to get along. (Inner or outer) Environment determines perception. (Inner or outer) Perception determines the truth. The (Inner or outer) truth determines the lifenotions .

(Inner or outer) Notions of life determine the descension and/or/(both) ascension of self… and again from the start.

differs from human to human.

My own insights by immersing into the self at deep meditation in silence.