Confusing reality with thoughts
The problem
Our troubles are due to confusing reality with thoughts.For example, we may be worried about meeting someone next week. Here are two distinct events - the current worrying thought, and the possible future meeting. However, they are different kinds of events. The first exists; the second does not. The thought is part of our experience now, the future meeting currently non-existent (and may never happen anyway). But we do not normally realize this and automatically treat our thought as a reality. It is not the meeting that troubles us, although it seems that way - it is the thought of the possible meeting. So the only thing that causes us trouble is a thought. We would like not to worry, not to have this thought. However there it is, part of our present reality. By correct meditation we can come to deeply understand and realize the difference between thoughts and reality. As a result, with no effort, we stop trying to change reality and simply rest in full awareness of our present experience.
Meditating correctly
To meditate correctly is not trivial, and we need to start with a teacher to introduce us, guide us and correct our errors. Correct meditation involves resting in natural awareness. However, particularly in the west, this contradicts our achievement biased education. We are taught to solve problems by thinking, analyzing and doing, spending effort. The idea of allowing things to settle naturally so that our deeper instincts can naturally combine with our knowledge, wisdom and understanding is alien. Much of meditative training is actually just unlearning bad thinking habits.