It's totally normal to find it difficult to start talking to God.
Rav Shalom Arush, who has talked to God for 6 hours at a time on a daily basis, states that even for someone like him, there is a yetzer hara to unnecessarily postpone or skip hitbodedut (secluding yourself in order to have an intimate discussion with God).
Even the great tzaddik Rav Levi Yitchak Bender, who merited incredible miracles (such as the time he got so involved in his prayers that he started praying at the top of his lungs inside a sukkah and the evil Communist authorities, who pursued him and stood right outside the sukkah, mysteriously did not hear him and consequently did not find him), also mentioned that sometimes hitbodedut is dry and you just don't feel anything from it.
If that's what they've experienced, then all the more so by regular people like you and me.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!
Here are some tips straight from Rav Bender's mouth, via the book compiled from his original lectures, Words of Faith (emphasis mine):
Rav Shalom Arush, who has talked to God for 6 hours at a time on a daily basis, states that even for someone like him, there is a yetzer hara to unnecessarily postpone or skip hitbodedut (secluding yourself in order to have an intimate discussion with God).
Even the great tzaddik Rav Levi Yitchak Bender, who merited incredible miracles (such as the time he got so involved in his prayers that he started praying at the top of his lungs inside a sukkah and the evil Communist authorities, who pursued him and stood right outside the sukkah, mysteriously did not hear him and consequently did not find him), also mentioned that sometimes hitbodedut is dry and you just don't feel anything from it.
If that's what they've experienced, then all the more so by regular people like you and me.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!
Here are some tips straight from Rav Bender's mouth, via the book compiled from his original lectures, Words of Faith (emphasis mine):
"That each person should sit every day one hour alone between him and his Maker and express his heart before his Father in Heaven like one speaks before a good friend."
Quoting Rebbe Nachman's words to Rebbe Nosson:
"Un veiter iz zeir gut as miredt ois dem herts far Hashem Yisbarachz azoi vi far a emesin gutin freund -- Above all, it is very good to speak out the heart before Hashem Yitbarach like to a true good friend."
"A person speaks words in hitbodedut. He talks and talks and does not experience any benefit. Words repeat themselves without vitality and feeling. Nevertheless--don't give up. Continue talking. In the end, when you 'wake up,' you will see that each word made an impression."
"...a person should never let up. Never tire and despair from seeking. Rather, continue to supplicate even without seeing benefit. Remain steadfast in emuna and do not give up. Know surely that no word is lost, also no good desire is ever lost. However, to move this heart of stone and elevate it to the brain requires many words...Along the way, every single word makes an impression."
"It could also be that a person not only feels no progress, but on the contrary, feels farther away. His heart is cold and frozen...And those same confusions and illusions continue to flood his brain like yesterday and the day before. At times, they prevail until he falls completely back...But really...there is improvement, even if I didn't notice it...at some time, this will shine...He accomplished great things."
"Open your mouth and let your words shine!"
"This confession that we do daily during hitbodedut should like one who speaks to a faithful, beloved friend: one who will certainly accept your words, forgive, and continue to do you good."
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