I think more ground could be gained in peace, spousal/family relations, workplace relations, even Church matters if people were far more ardent and cheerful about "changing themselves" first. 

"My rights or pseudo-rights, my preferences, my desires, my hopes, my illnesses, my job, my aspirations, my vanity, my pride, my sexual desires, my insecurities, etc."

So I am more focused on what God wants us to be doing and how God wants to "work with us" to help us grow beyond the self that you're focused on. 

What does God expect of me?
What are His "preferences", "desires for me"?
What is God trying to draw out of me through my illnesses, workload, setbacks?
How is God trying to grow more generosity out of me in my marriage, fatherhood, work life?

These are changes that we should be more attentive to vs. old clerical matters. 

Having "old clerical matters" to focus on gives some people such as yourself reasons for not working on more intimate and substantial matters of "change" within.