It is often said that awareness of a problem is half a solution. In other words, if we are unaware of a problem we have, we have a bigger problem.
I don't think those who are in a physical prison are unaware that they are imprisoned. But when it comes to a mind-made prison, there seem to be many prisoners who are unaware that they are imprisoned.
Let me illustrate this with something funny I either heard from someone or am quoting myself. ;-) When the world looks dirty to you, there are three possibilities: 1) the world is really dirty; 2) your glasses are dirty; 3) both the world and your glasses are dirty. ;-)
Mind-made prisons can be created by others or by ourselves. The former include, for example, various types of propaganda, whether political, religious, etc. It is also often said that if those who are being propagandized are unaware that they are being propagandized, this is a sign that the propaganda works most efficiently.
But much more subtle and problematic are mind-made prisons of the second type. They include, for example, various kinds of mental labeling of other people and ourselves. This last type seems the most subtle and problematic of all mind-made prisons. This is also known as self-deception.
Now a meta-problem is how to deal with those who have this problem. One thing I know from my own experience on both sides is that it is often a waste of time to try to convince such people. This can only arouse or increase their animosity toward us.
So what do I do now, for example, when they try to challenge me, often unconsciously? I simply stay silent or walk away from them in silence, whether literally or figuratively. I have learned the hard way to prioritize being calm over being right.