Initially, when you want to pray, it should be with fear, for this the entrance gate to HaShem’spresence, blessed is He. Say in your heart, “Who do I wish to bond to? To the One who creates all worlds out of nothing with His speech, who brings them into being and sustains them.” Contemplate His greatness and exaltedness and then you will be able to enter the Upper Worlds.¹⁰⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰⁰ Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 2:1-2 & 4:12; Talmud Bavli Brachot 28b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 98:1