Saint Theophan speaks to one of our greatest challenges
(At least one of mine).
You've
got to get out of your head and into your heart. Right now your
thoughts are in your head, and God seems to be outside you. Your prayer
and all your spiritual exercises also remain exterior. As long as you
are in your head, you will never master your thoughts, which continue to
whirl around your head like snow in a winter's storm or like mosquitoes
in the summer's heat. If you descend into your heart, you will have no
more difficulty. Your mind will empty out and your thoughts will
dissipate.
Thoughts
are always in your mind chasing one another about, and you will never
manage to get them under control. But if you enter into your heart and
can remain there, then every time your thoughts invade, you will only
have to descend into your heart and your thoughts will vanish into thin
air. This will be your safe haven. Don't be lazy. Descend. You will find
life in your heart. There you must live.
- St. Theophan the Recluse