The attain the first step on the 8 fold path is to have rightview and understanding. To do this one have to accept the four noble truths;

1. The existence of Suffering; physical mental, emotional, spiritual

2. The causes of suffering; our personal suffering is caused by expectations, our desires and attachments to people places things and thoughts of course there are lifes inevitable sufferings, sickness, pain, injustices...

3. When the Causes of suffering are removed we are relieved of suffering, and when we are relieved of suffering we can attain enlightenment.

4. And to follow the 8 fold path will lead to removing the causes of suffering

Without Enlightenment we are like a person who is ill and we cannot become well without taking "medications" in the Eight doses. and the "medications" will not work until one realizes that we are "ill" and why