Search inside yourself the unexpected path to achieving success, happiness (and world peace)

1. Search inside yourself the unexpected path to achieving success, happiness (and world peace) Presented by Maria AyzzaBarcarse

2. All about “Meng,” the author • Chade-Meng Tan • Semi-retired Software Engineer at Google Inc. • “Jolly Good Fellow” (official title) • Current job description: “Enlighten minds, open hearts, create world peace.” • Teaches people on how to develop a greater sense of mindfulness & apply it to their everyday lives. • Personal website: http://chademeng.com/

3. HAPPINESS • “A deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind…not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion, or a mood, but an optimal state of being.”—MatthieuRicard • The optimal state of being is “a profound emotional balance struck by a subtle understanding of how the mind functions.” • “Happiness is not something you pursue; it is something you allow.” • A skill that is easily acquired through practice. • Requires a deep insight into the mind, emotion & our experience of phenomena. • Everyone has a set point of happiness in which we return to—our “happy place.”

4. HOW TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS • 1) Attention training • Creating a quality of the mind that is both clear & calm at the same time. • Response flexibility:a stable & clear, unwavering, non-judging attention that allows you to pause before you act. • Rather than acting impulsively, you pause for a split second, creating time for you to choose how you want to react. • Our growth & happiness lies in our response. • 2) Self-Knowledge & Self-Mastery • Ability to observe your thought stream & emotions with clarity & with a third person perspective, thereby creating a high-resolution perception into your own cognitive & emotive processes. • Once achieved, the creation of a deep self-knowledge leads to self-mastery. • 3) Creating useful mental habits • Idea that habitual, instinctive first thoughts of people changes one’s social dynamic as this sincere good is unconsciously picked up by others & creates highly productive partnerships centered around trust. • A decision/choice made possible by will.

5. DEVELOPING & OPTIMIZING THE SELF • Emotional Intelligence (EI) • Ability to monitor one’s own & others’ feelings & emotions, to discriminate among them & to use this information to guide one’s thinking & actions. • Attention training is its very foundation. • Daniel Goldman’s 5 domains • Self-awareness • Self-regulation • Motivation • Empathy • Social skills

6. MINDFULNESS • Paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, & in a non-judgmental fashion. • Mindfulness in 2 minutes • The Easy Way—Bring gentle & consistent attention to your breathing for 2 min. • The Easier Way—Sit without agenda for 2 min. • The idea is to shift from “doing” to “being” • Just “let it go” & “let it be” • The hard part is deepening, strengthening, & sustaining it even in times of strife.

7. MINDFULNESS (cont’d…) • Trains 2 important faculties: • Attention: involves “taking possession by the mind, in clear & vivid form”—William James • Meta-attention: the ability to know that your mind has wandered away. • These are the secrets to concentration • Strengthen the two & your mind becomes increasingly focused & stable in a relaxing way, allowing happiness (& natural joy) to spontaneously arise. • “Happiness is the default state of mind.” • “Happiness is just being.”

8. MEDITATION • Afamily of mental training practices that are designed to familiarize the practitioner with specific types of mental processes. • When choosing a meditation posture for yourself, the best is one that helps you remain alert & aware at the same time for a long period of time. • Sit, stand, walk, lay down • Eyes opened/closed

9. MINDFULNESS MEDITATION • Create an intention • Relax & loosen up • Take a deep breath • Let your mind go & focus on your breathing • If you become distracted, simply regain control • Be aware of your attitude towards yourself • Rid your mind of negativity • Be kind to yourself. Love yourself. • Project this positivity onto others

10. REWARDS & BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS PRACTICE • Greater level of self-awareness • Boost in self-esteem & self-confidence • Enhanced problem solving skills • Stellar work performance • Outstanding leadership • Deep, meaningful relationships • SUCCESS • HAPPINESS

11. "Th-th-th-that's all folks!” • Recorded mindfulness class video: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8fcqrNO7so