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[Stranger]

If it's a prison, then it's one with the door unlocked.  Our work is simply to notice that the door exists, and then make the effort to get up and walk out!

Wish it were that easy. I'd say that metaphysical door is miles away on top of a steep mountain, and the way is obstructed by lots of suffering and many distractions.

Well, let's add a little more detail to the process and see.  

First: we have the capacity to choose the emotion with which we respond to any situation.  
 
Second: we fill ourselves with whatever emotion we choose to generate within ourselves.

Third: loving-kindness is happiness.   Ever moment spent feeling this, literally, builds upon and accumulates our joy, and reduces emotional suffering.

Fourth: Every moment (more accurately, every Planck time, but let's not get too technical) we enter a new reality.  Like a new frame of a movie on a movie reel.  Our choices in the preceding moment define what the next moment will feel like.

The point is that nothing except ego and habit stands in the way between us and the choices that would transform the prison into paradise.  If we wanted it badly enough, used every opportunity to find love (i.e., 100% efficient use of catalyst), I doubt it would even take two or three years to to reach bliss - less time than it takes to get a Bachelor's degree in college!