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Shareתָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַרְבָּעָה צְרִיכִין חִזּוּק, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: תּוֹרָה, וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, תְּפִלָּה, וְדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ.
The Sages taught in a baraita: Four things require bolstering, constant effort to improve, and they are: Torah, good deeds, prayer, and occupation.
צריכין חזוק – שיתחזק אדם בהן תמיד בכל כחו:,דרך ארץ – אם אומן הוא לאומנתו אם סוחר הוא לסחורתו אם איש מלחמה הוא למלחמתו:
Need strengthening- That a person should always strengthen them with all his might. The way of the land- If he is an artist, in his art. If he is a merchant, in his sales, and if he is a warrior, in his wars.
Talmud Yerushalmi Brachot 2:4
Rav Chiya the Great said: All my days I never concentrated [properly] on my prayer. One time I wanted to concentrate, and I meditated and said, “Who goes up first before the king – the Arkafta or the Exilarch?” Shmuel said: I count the birds/clouds [to help induce the proper state of mind]. R. Bun bar Chiya said: I count rows of tiles [in the ceiling]. R. Matanya said: I count myself lucky, for when I reach Modim [the eighteenth blessing, Thanksgiving], I bow instinctively.”
Rav Chiya the Great said: All my days I never concentrated [properly] on my prayer. One time I wanted to concentrate, and I meditated and said, “Who goes up first before the king – the Arkafta or the Exilarch?” Shmuel said: I count the birds/clouds [to help induce the proper state of mind]. R. Bun bar Chiya said: I count rows of tiles [in the ceiling]. R. Matanya said: I count myself lucky, for when I reach Modim [the eighteenth blessing, Thanksgiving], I bow instinctively.”