One Source: 3

The merchant who chooses to stay at one fair and not travel around is well aware that it is possible that if he were to go to another fair he may be very successful. He passes up on those opportunities because he knows he has a system that works here. It is better to work that system, then to be seeking out others, that may or may not prove to be at all profitable.
The same is true with any relationship. If a person finds a true connection, he is better off working on and deepening that connection than searching elsewhere in the hopes of finding something better. 

One Source: 2

But there may be a merchant who chooses to attend just one fair, and that one, a small one. However, by remaining focused and diligent on the opportunities he has there, he ends up with much more substantial profits than the merchant who went from fair to fair.
So, too, when a person chooses an approach to serving Hashem, he should focus his energies on understanding and developing that one approach. He needs to work on internalizing the spiritual growth which that approach can afford him. Only then will he truly change and make his spiritual growth permanent.
This is analogous to marriage. A person can choose to run around from one partner to another without settling down into anything permanent. In the end he will find himself empty and with nothing with which to come away. However, deciding to build a permanent relationship, offers opportunities for personal growth that were otherwise unavailable.

One Source: 1

Our Sages tell us that at one point Rabban Gamliel instituted a rule that only students who were the same internally and externally (תוכו כברו) were permitted to enter the Yeshiva.
Why was this rule instituted?
There are times when a person can study under one teacher for many years and enjoy his studies as the teachings are wondrous, however, internally he remains the same person. This results from the fact that he is not entering into his studies in a manner analogous to marriage. In other words, he is not truly connecting to the inner meaning of his teacher's words. All his studies are superficial. All the spiritual talk and discussion is very enjoyable, but he doesn't absorb them into the essence of his being.
He may even find after time that behaviorally he has changed to some extent, but his internal world is no different than it was the first day he began his studies. With all the wonderful discussion, nothing has entered his soul.
He is like a merchant who travels from fair to fair, cutting deals, buying and selling, but at the end of the day he hasn't turned a profit to bring home.

Totally Devoted: 5c

When a person has a relationship with Hashem and shares things with Hashem and only Him, by definition what he is sharing is unknown to others. Perhaps the person could devote his energies to engaging in practices which would earn him accolades from others, he could share his insights and growth with them, rather than just with Hashem. But Hashem values a person who shares only with Him and says: Yes, you aren't receiving as much honor from other people as you could. You have given all of your beauty and charm to me alone. You fortune shall not be diminished.
This is the idea of כל כבודה בת מלך פנימה, the honor of a princess is internal. Why does a person need to find acceptance from others? Why does she need their approval? Why act in a manner designed to provoke a positive reaction from onlookers? The "internal" is giving it all to Hashem, that is the real honor for a person.
This can be illustrated with a parable. A person whose foot is healthy is not heard as he walks. No one else knows he is there. His leg follows the dictates of his brain, and no one else has any awareness. Someone with crutches makes plenty of noise. The noise is a sign of a lack of health. It can't carry itself. So, too, a healthy person can go around in life without making noise. He doesn't need the attention of others to his existence. But a person has to make others aware of his being there...

Totally Devoted: 5b

ורחוק מפנינים מכרה ...ושלל לא יחסר, And her price is more than pearls...shall lack no fortune.

When two people are in an intimate relationship, they are united against the world. Each desires to be the vessel for all the other has to offer. There will always be outsiders who are desirous to receive from either party to the relationship - from their wisdom, beauty, or something else - but in doing so they are trying to rob the relationship. When each person treats what they have as being more precious than pearls, that there is no price that would allow them to share it with someone outside the relationship, then ושלל לא יחסר, there will be nothing missing from the relationship; each one will feel and know that they have the other in his or her entirety.

The same is true in a relationship between Man and Hashem.

Totally Devoted: 5

In a monogamous relationship each person is completely devoted to the other. Each one is the vessel to receive all the other has to offer. When one of them shows off before others those things which makes him special , it diminishes the relationship because the relationship is predicated on the fact that each is a unique vessel for the other. When a third party gets involved and is enjoying what one of them has to offer, the essential relationship is no longer monogamous.

(I would like to add that we are not referring here to straying sexually alone, or even primarily. It can be emotional, intellectual, or in other ways as well.)

Totally Devoted: 4b

For all intimate connections this rule holds true. Only if effort has been made to build a mind & soul connection can there then be an all encompassing intimate connection. After all, what is the value of intimacy where there is no heart & soul connection? And what is the point of a real inner connection if it doesn't manifest itself in action?

Totally Devoted: 4a

The Ariza"l writes that when a person begins to daven he must first connect his heart to Hashem and only then move to action - reciting the words of prayer.
This would seem to be the opposite of the usual way things are done. Usually, we are taught, a person needs to start with action and then move from the "lower" realm of action into the "higher" plane of her inner being. Why is it different when it comes to prayer?
The answer is that when it comes to most behaviors it is true, one starts with the external and works her way to the internal. Prayer is different because it is an act of intimacy between a person and Hashem. When it comes to intimate acts one cannot begin with the external. An intimate act coming from a superficial place is vastly different in nature than one coming from the internal. As such, it is necessary for the internal feelings and frame of mind to be in place prior to engaging in anything external.

Totally Devoted: 3b

Many of us have experienced engaging in programs of spiritual or personal growth. Oftentimes we can find ourselves having put in the effort to really understand and internalize a particular concept, yet we find ourselves unable to truly internalize it and make it a part of who we are.

Standing on the doorstep of transcendent change which will permanently change our lives for the better, we find ourselves unable to fully commit to the new way of approaching life. We wish to leave ourselves a back door to return to what we know, to what is comfortable.

It is this small opening that makes us incapable to truly embrace change and will  inevitably lead us back to where we started.

Totally Devoted: 3a

A connection is not truly unique if the person is aware at the time of connection that he has the option of connecting with someone else as well. By subsequently connecting with another, the uniqueness of the original connection is gone. The fact that he can do so shows that neither connection is truly complete.

For this reason our Sages teach us that Hashem was saddened that even at the moment of the giving of the Torah the people were already inclined to worship the Golden Calf. Even standing at Sinai they were not truly given over to Hashem. Had they been, they would have been incapable of their subsequent behavior. Their disloyal behavior shows that their initial devotion was not completely sincere.

Totally Devoted: 1b

It is possible that when a person feels a sense of success, he can lose his sense of complete faith in Hashem. There is a part of him that feels that he has the ability to act in a sphere outside of the influence of Hashem. It is at this time when a person needs to refocus on his Emunah, on his complete faith and trust in Hashem.

Those who spend time devoting themselves to this focus will often notice how events in their lives are constantly forcing them to focus on their trust in Hashem, to the exclusion of trust in other sources. The feeling of protection and being taken care of that comes from this mindset is unparalleled. It isn't easy to live this way. It is as if Hashem is saying "If you look elsewhere for your sense of satisfaction, then you are not truly devoted to me. Even if in most aspects you are mine, the little aspect where you aren't says a lot about the rest of yourself."

Totally Devoted: 1a

A person may notice that there are certain topics from which he shies away during his conversations with Hashem. Whatever the psychological reason underlying that behavior, the bottom line is that something is causing a division between himself and Hashem. Perhaps he feels comfortable discussing them with a friend, but only as something theoretical, or maybe they are things that he has buried so deep that he can't really verbalize them in any setting.

In a close friendship if a person leaves one aspect of his life out of the friendship and refuses to discuss it, it can ruin the entire friendship. He can't say, "I am giving you my entire heart, but one tiny little bit is reserved." In a trust-based relationship it is either all or nothing. If he opens all the doors of his heart except for one, it is a sign that even all the others aren't truly open. True closeness requires total openness. As it says in a Ketubah: ואל יעלימו לא זה מזו ולא זו מזה, "And they should not hide, not he from her and not her from he."

Always: 7

There is sometimes a value to being with another person even if no words are exchanged. A woman may have an elderly parent who can no longer speak, but there is still something to visiting the parent and sitting quietly with them; to put aside all the other cares and distractions life and to be focused on them.

In a similar vein there is value to sitting quietly with Hashem, even if you say nothing; just to be focused on His existence and your being with Him. You have nothing to say, but you wish to be near Him and aware of his Being.

A person may wish she had something to say, but can't figure out what or how. The experience of just sitting there focused on Hashem, creating a relationship with Hashem, can lead to new ways of communicating with Him when she had no means beforehand.

Always: 6

When a person finds himself in difficulty he realizes that he doesn't control his own destiny. He doesn't rule over his own life, but is given over to external forces over which he has no control. In contrast, when a person is feeling success, he is happy and fully sated, he often errs and feels that he is in control. If he even shows the slightest humility he feels it is a great accomplishment.

The reality is that specifically the time when a person feels he has everything is the time to realize the truth - that he has nothing. A person with true understanding comprehends that even if superficially it appears to others that he has it all, he understands to himself that this is simply untrue.

For a homeless person begging in the street it is easy to understand that he has nothing. But for someone sitting comfortable in his home, full of blessing and success, it is a much greater challenge to embrace the truth.

Always: 5

Imagine a student who studies in one place in the mornings, another in the afternoon, and a third place in the evening. Besides that, he spends the night hours at home. It is impossible to really learn the truth of who such a person is. You can't talk to him and find out his essence. In each place he can hide his true self.
However, a person who is always found in the same location no matter what is going on cannot hide who he is. Any cloak of invisibility falls away. He can't hide himself 24/7.
It is easy to enter into a group of people and share a deep insight in human relations; the words don't necessarily come from the essential person. The person is possibly not connected to his truth. The same is true when someone shares prepared remarks. It is a different story when sharing with people to whom one is connected all day long and the conversation is flowing constantly.

Always: 4

We can compare this to the ברית (Bris), covenant, between Dovid and Yonason. They made a covenant meant to connect them no matter what was happening in their lives. A Bris rises above the current feelings of the parties. Even when one party is not feeling connected to the other, the Bris connects them. The power of the Bris comes into play when the connection is weak.

Similarly when it comes to prayer. When a person prays even when he doesn't feel like it and feels like he has nothing to say, but only because it is his natural state, he shows that he has an essential connection to Hashem beyond all reason.

It is only when a person has a place where he belongs that he can truly discover new things about himself. In other situations he may discover deeper truths about himself. But something truly new can only be found in one's natural home.

Always: 3

The ideas explained in the previous post make it clear what the value is of praying at prescribed times, even if one isn't feeling very inspired.When someone prays when he feels like it and is inspired to do so it indicates that when he feels like speaking, he knows how to. However, when he has an awareness that it is time to pray and is therefore prepared to do so - no matter how inspired he is or isn't at the present moment - he shows that prayer is an integral part of his very being. It is not just something that he does because he is finding it enjoyable. Like a marriage bond for better or for worse... He belongs right now with Hashem, no matter what.

Always: 2

If a person returns home only when he has something to say to his family members, it means he is treating them as if they are business acquaintances; he has no inner connection to them. A healthy person returns home for no other reason than that is the place where he belongs.
The healthy person will come home every night even though he has nothing specific to say to the other members of his household, solely because that is the place where he feels at home. It is the returning home even with nothing to say, that shows it is home for him. Someone who comes home only when he needs help, shows that it is not his natural place.
This is the significance of prayer at set times even when one is not inspired to pray. If one prays only when he is inspired to do so it shows that he knows what to do when he feels like it. However, when one prays because he is aware that it is time to pray, and joins others in prayer, and does so even though he is uninspired, he shows that prayer is part and parcel of his life. He is there not just when he senses something to gain from it. It is like a marriage that is there for all circumstances. He belongs before Hashem now, no matter what.

Always: 1

Hisbodidus, connecting to Hashem personally, is חיים (Chayim), life. Chayim indicates something that is continual. A flowing spring is referred to as מים חיים, living waters. A person needs to connect to Hashem on a frequent and regular basis. It is not only for when someone is feeling good or on a spiritual high, or for others when they are down and desperate. It needs to be there all the time.

This is similar to a marriage. A married person is not meant to come home only when he happens to feel like it or when he has no other place to go. Someone who operates that way has no understanding of what marriage is. Rather it is constant, day in, day out. Night in, night out. It is where a person belongs, no matter what else is going on in his or her life.

The Importance of Relationships: 5

The Degel Machne Ephraim cites a seemingly bizarre Midrash. When the Torah says ויותר יעקב לבדו, and Yaakov remained alone, the Midrash says that this is connected to another verse which says: ונשגב ה' לבדו ביום ההוא, and God alone will remain exalted on that day.

What is the connection between these verse?

He explains that the Talmud teaches that every person should believe that the world was created for himself. If a person can truly internalize this dictum he will live his life with the realization that his behavior, good or bad, can affect the entire world's existence. Rather than worry about what other people are thinking about him, and adjust his behavior to what he thinks others will approve of, he has the cognizance that it is solely his doing what he knows is right for the world that counts.

Only then can he truly serve God without any outside pressures and interests getting involved. The Midrash is telling us that it is only when a person sees himself as unique and singularly responsible, can he live his life in a way that he is exalting God and God alone.

The Importance of Relationships: Sidebar Note

The concept of בדד, alone, can mean one of two things.
Sometimes a person chooses to be alone because he doesn't want the company of other people. He is alone because he doesn't wish to be with anyone else. At other times a person may choose to be alone because he chooses to focus on something and doesn't want the distractions inherent in being amongst others.
When we speak of Hisbodidus, of being alone with Hashem, the intent is not meant to be that you are alone with Hashem because you don't like to be around other people. Rather it is a choice to be alone with Hashem in order to focus on the relationship you have with Him.

The Importance of Relationships: 4b

After a person finds enjoyment in being alone with Hashem he will not find any other place of refuge in the world. Nothing will give him satisfaction and relaxation like a moment alone with Hashem. When he is lacking this pleasure he will find himself hungry and desiring that taste of life. Everything else seems empty and dry in comparison; he only wants to feel that connection that he had when he and Hashem were together. (These hopes are what build the eventual connection.)

This is the idea of התבודדות, Hisbodidus. On the one hand the person leaves civilization to go out in to the fields, under the sky. He is like a beast seeking and crying out for his sustenance. On the other hand, this is where he finds his true life.

He will seek out every bit of life he can find in each word of Torah that he studies, in every Mitzvah that he performs, in his every word of prayer - in all that he does. It is all revolving around his ultimate goal of finding a resting place for the Schechinah within his heart.