In the mindfulness meditation on the Headspace app, there’s this idea of ‘starting at one’. After a little intro to get settled, Andy’s soothing voice tells me to rest my attention on the breath. Not to change it or breathe deeply/slowly/whatever, just notice it. Then we count: one on the inhale, two on the exhale. Inhale three, exhale four. “Just up to a count of ten, then start again at one,” he says. The mind will get distracted. “That’s okay,” he says, calm and unworried. “Once you notice you’ve become distracted, gently bring the attention back to the breath and start at one.” When I first started meditation, I remember getting frustrated at my total inability...