Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan

The book, Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan describes the lessons from the Search Inside Yourself program developed at Google with the help of Daniel Goleman. This book was a recommendation from a Happiness video clip by the creator of Tammy's Library.

The book is a lively, playful and engaging read punctuated by drawings and cartoons which ably bring out the concepts discussed in the book. Several exercises also help individuals to apply the ideas in the text.

I took part in an exercise requiring me to describe my ideal future five years from now if the current expectations in life are met or exceeded. Describing a vision for the future helps shape the present. It is important to be as specific as possible and share the vision with others in order to maximize the benefits.

He provides excellent advice to respond to an emotional trigger transitioning from attentional control to cognitive change.  Slow time down by observing your own response, reframe or reinterpret the situation and use humor, curiosity or meshing (Richard Ingram) to finally accept the situation.  This example of reframing (Teenagers who egged my house) came from my SCTV online satire class assignment.

 

Search Inside Yourself - 26 min.

Search Inside Yourself - 54 min.