Hundreds of millions of people in the world meditate in one way or another. Actually, if
you include prayer as a form of meditation,
the number is probably in the billions.

Most types of meditation involve directing one’s attention. It’s pretty simple, really. Instead of letting your mind wander, you choose to think about something. The “object” of attention might vary, depending on the type of meditation. but the basic mental “technique” is the same.

If you don’t meditate, here’s a one-paragraph short course on how to do it. First, pick a topic. Let’s say you choose “love for family”. Okay, close your eyes and let “love for family” come to mind. Feel your love for your family. Just the love part—not the dental appointments, financial matters, soccer game duties—just your feeling of love. In fact, when your mind does wander, gently bring it back. Whenever it wanders, bring it back. That is the whole point.

That act of redirecting attention is very, very neat.

Recognizing that you’ve wandered off to some other thought, as alluring as that other thought might be, and taking a “thanks, but no thanks” stance concerning it, can become a highly nuanced art that applies even when you are not meditating. But even more interesting, it clears space in the mind for a silent sense of self.