Focus & Attention

Distraction is the default setting for most of us. These articles and practices help you train your attention, stay present with what matters, and work with a wandering mind instead of fighting it.
mindful attention
Expert Interviews
The Flighty Nature of Attention 

Meditation teacher Will Kabat-Zinn explores how meditation allows us to stumble upon something we've always wanted: a settled, stable mind in the midst of the chaos of life. We live at the mercy of our thoughts and thought patterns, he says, and as we begin to cultivate attention—which requires us to move counter to much of the mainstream direction of our society and economy—we gain a little stability. Read More 

  • Will Kabat-Zinn
  • June 8, 2017
illustration head with labyrinth inside
Focus & Attention
Why Our Brain Thrives on Mistakes 

A slowly growing body of research suggests that our common aversion to failure is itself a failed strategy. Being curious about our mistakes is the royal road to learning. And mindful techniques can help. Read More 

  • Barry Boyce
  • May 3, 2017
woman holding iPhone
Focus & Attention
5 Ways to Fight Fake News 

Filter bubbles and fake news exist because all of us tend to ignore facts and stick to our own social enclaves online. To heal the division in America, we must fix one of our most important methods of gathering and sharing information: the internet. Read More 

  • Sam Littlefair
  • March 14, 2017
Focus & Attention
How Practice Affects Our Brains 

From the greatest musicians and athletes to rookie meditators, practice helps us get better, and more confident. But how? This short animation delves into the research behind effectively training the brain.  Read More 

  • Stephany Tlalka
  • March 3, 2017
Ad for a mindfulness app with meditations, articles, and a section sidebar, shown on a phone held in hand.