Sure, life is what we consciously, then unconsciously make it (in that order). It feels like a long road when you are genuine, but when it is past and you have advanced, you find that it is not. The length or shortness is only a perception. It is what it is. That is what this article is about. While you are on the genuine road to awakening and enlightenment, the process seems long and winding. Sure. But, absolutely consider this, it is what it is, no matter what your perception is. What it takes to achieve what you want is a uniform thing, in that everybody has to climb that same "householder mountain" or face the same road traveling of enlightenment and awakening to make it. Make no mistake, I did not say that enlightenment and awakening is an easy "golden freeway" after you make it there or get on the real road. All the same "stuff" is still there, only you or anyone who travels the real road knows how to deal with it better and does or to put it another way: knowledge expressed in productive and consistent action and actions.

So, to start, realize, what is a mentality or a mindset except what you make it yourself. No matter what the consciousness directs the rest even if it does "seem" to be "out of control". You put it there with your inattentiveness. I find that to be real for myself, that when I channel myself into productive and consistent actions, I get productive and consistent results, even if there is a "slight deviation in plans." Consistent and unwavering intention is the key no matter how "long" it takes or what it takes from you to "pay for your reward" at the end of your efforts.

Our consistent style of thinking makes our lives into what we do not want it to be or what we do want it to be. Sure, I could make it less simple, but what does it all start with? What does it all end with? If you answered thinking (intention) and thinking (reflection), you are right. So, I am not saying enlightenment and awakening are "cloud nine" where effort stops and thinking stops. No. In fact that is where real effort, thinking and honesty begin in every genuine way. Existence is a process of effort, thinking, energy transactions and genuine work. That is the reality of the situation and no matter what, we do have to take it, we cannot leave it, even if we try, because, if we have any degree of consciousness, "congratulations" we exist and exist fully. There is no turning back, we must take our minds in a definite direction even if it is "no direction."

So, think on this in your life and existence process, even if you have no direction or all the direction you need, you have made a conscious choice. So, a Chinese philosopher said, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."; well I say, the journey of the forty mile walk begins with a choice then a step. Then the next step and all after that until you are done and you have made it, and then you set ever more new goals as long as you have consciousness (which is forever). If one goal ends set another better one, for existence really is an infinite process, not an "end concept." What is more irrational than thinking enlightenment is "the end" when there is always somehow a "what next."

In all importance, I would like to say this: When you ask the "what is next", there is an automatic answer: what you consciously make next. Remember all journeys start with leaving home or the safe spot, like a good game of backgammon. From the inner table to the outer table and back home, over and over, game after game. Like backgammon, you play until you reach your goal and then play again. Oh, I could use any example, but backgammon is the easiest for me. Sure you may get a few pieces taken by obstacles to the "center bar", but with determination and intelligently conscious play, you can win and get to the other inner table and back home, over and over, setting ever more ambitious game goals. Get the point? No matter how wise you get, or enlightened, and especially awake, there is always a "what is next." That is my point and that is reality for all. Objectively. So, think about this, we are always moving forward in thought and subjective and objective time, in a sense there is no other way to move, for procrastination is purely mental choice, not reality. Time waits for no one. So, no matter what we are all on "the forty mile walk to enlightenment and awakening." We can do what we need and want in that order.