summary ofWherever You Go, There You AreBook by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD

first KEY POINT

Meditation is not sacred knowledge

Many people have tried meditation and given up. Some have expressed an interest in doing so but found figuring it out too tricky. Meditation requires concentration and practice, and the noise of today’s world can often get in the way. It’s also shrouded in many false ideas. For instance, many believe you must completely clear your mind to meditate correctly. That’s not the case. You simply need to quiet your mind and allow thoughts to flow in and out without paying attention to them. It takes practice, but it’s doable!Mindfulness is about being present in the moment. As simple as it sounds, we spend most of our time unaware of ourselves and our surroundings. Used to a hectic lifestyle, we lose the knowledge of consciousness. Instead, we shape up to live and work in monotonous cycles. Eventually, we lose ourselves in them and fail to lead a meaningful life. But as deeply psychological creatures, we need a sense of meaning that comes from awareness, which meditation can provide.Jon Kabat-Zinn guides you through some simple meditation practices, explaining in detail the many important factors to help you master it over the long term. Perhaps more importantly, it teaches us that although meditation doesn’t come naturally to most people, it will come over time. Practice makes perfect in this case!We’re all aware of meditation's many physical and mental health benefits. Still, the ability to reconnect with yourself and the present moment can only be achieved via quiet introspection and the art of mindfulness.