Currently I’m re-reading Thomas a Kempis’ ‘The Imitation of Christ’. Here is a thought that I need to more fully embrace:

“These two wings will lift you high above earthly things: simplicity and purity*. Simplicity of intention is after God’s own heart; purity of affection sees him and tastes him.”

*if you stop reading at this point, it would be easy to see this as just another reworked form of Asceticism