The way of our salaf (pious predecessors) 

Al-Hasan Al-Basri (Died 110 Hijri) said:
“By Allah, I did not meet those from the early part of this ummah except that what they said with their tongues was in their hearts. By Allah, they were in agreement with the book of their lord and the sunnah of their Prophet (sallaaAllahu alahyi wa sallam). When the night covered them, they would stand on their feet and their faces on the floor (in prayer), their tears flowing down their cheeks, they were desiring for their lord to free them. If they were to earn something from the dunya they would take from it what they needed and place the remainder for their hereafter and they would be thankful to Allah for it and if they didn’t they would be pleased and say: “this is from Allah as a test for us from him”. If they did something good, it would make them happy and they would call upon Allah that he accepts it from them and if they did something wrong, it would displease them and they would seek forgiveness from Allah.

Source: Tadheem Qadr as-salaah (2/675-677)