St. Ambrose of Optina liked to tell the following parable:

 

- A man was going through a market. There were crowds of people around, chatter, noise, crowds. And he does not look around, he only slowly rides his horse through: "No-no! No-no!" So little by little he rode through the whole market square. So do you: whatever your thoughts may say, and you know all your business - pray and move forward.