I used to be a regular attendee of the Buddhist temple in my area and the first meditation they taught me was "Mindfulness of Breathing." Exactly what it sounds like. I was instructed to sit in a meditation pose and breath in 2, 3. and out 2, 3 and keep my thoughts focused only on the act of breathing. If my thoughts strayed, I was to turn them back to my breathing. It was near impossible to keep my thoughts on the breathing, but I became quite good at returning my thoughts to center. Just a gentle turn. Nothing aggressive.

I'm a long way from that temple now, but I still find myself stopping to breathe and control my thoughts. It helps me weather life's up and downs. Equanimity.