Seek a certain number of persons whose company is not disagreeable to you and who can refresh your mind when there is need of it. We do not need a great deal of company, and we must accustom ourselves not to be too particular. It is sufficient if we find some good people who are quiet and moderately reasonable. Vary your occupations so that you may not be fatigued with any one of them. Do not be surprised that your feelings of lukewarmness and your lack of attraction to the spiritual life should cast you down.
Nothing can be more disheartening.
One is to avoid all that distracts or absorbs you. By doing this you will cut off the source of everything that can be a dangerous distraction and can dry up your prayer. We must not expect to be nourished within when we are always taken up with external things. Faithfulness in renouncing things that make you too excited and too unreserved in conversation is absolutely necessary to draw down upon yourself the spirit of tranquillity and prayer. We cannot enjoy God and the world at the same time.