Most people, I think, start with an object of attention in mindfulness or meditation. We attempt to focus on the breath, or physical sensations in the body, or sound.
It’s easy to become preoccupied with focusing on a given object of awareness. Sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly distracted, I might try counting my breaths. Try to focus for just one in breath, then one out breath. Then another. Try to make it to ten. It’s harder than it sounds.
But, the object of our attention really isn’t what’s important. Being aware of awareness itself is the point.
That sounds somewhat esoteric. I think Jon Kabat-Zinn puts it well though: