This is where we are now. And the solution for that would be our control of consciousness. The author says, the control of consciousness determines the quality of life—has been known for a long time. But if it is true that people have known for thousands of years what it takes to become free and in control of one’s life, why haven’t we made more progress in this direction? Why are we as helpless, or more so, than our ancestors were in facing the chaos that interferes with happiness? … Control over consciousness is not simply a cognitive skill. At least as much as intelligence, it requires the commitment of emotions and will. It is not enough to know how to do it; one must do it, consistently, in the same way as athletes or musicians who must keep practicing what they know in theory. And this is never easy. It is painfully slow as well when knowledge is to be applied to modify our own habits and desires.
I know some musically talented people who practice 8 to 12 hours a day. The piano they love as well as hate is their flow from which their optimal experience comes out. We need to ask how much we dedicate ourselves to our optimal experience!