She is realistic enough to give plenty of space to the subject of natural distractions, but on the level of conviction and effort she wants us to pray carefully and attentively. Often she uses the term mental prayer, so common in her day, to designate private or personal prayer. She explains that mental prayer is a matter of being aware and knowing that we are speaking, with whom we are speaking, and who we ourselves are who dare to speak so much with so great a Lord. So prayer demands presence to ourselves, to what we think and say, and to Christ to whom we speak in response. Teresian prayer is mental, presence to presence, and the essence of this presence is the memory of Christ.
Teresian prayer is characteristically affective.
The primary reason for praying is affective communion with God. Everything moves in Teresian prayer toward affective rapport with Christ and his Father in the Spirit. Affective prayer is communion with God, a communion leading to union. Union with God is the goal of prayer for Teresa. Affectivity opens the way to communion and union.