Adrienne von Speyr has something insightful to offer regarding prayer and contemplation:
Whoever wishes to accommodate oneself to a new, living relationship to the Lord should consider that the Lord always spent a great deal of time reflecting upon the Father, but none in reflecting upon himself. The object of contemplation is always God, never oneself.
I would propose that we would gain what we really seek in prayer if we followed this advice.
Witnesses to Hope 