NAIKAN - INNER OBSERVATION
Psychotherapy and Self-Development

The method of Naikan - in english: Inner Observation; Observation of the inner Self - was developed at the beginning of the forties and the year 1965 by the japanese businessman Ishin Yoshimoto to be an instrument for the development of inner potentials. Already at its first applications at employees of its own company, also the great psychotherapeutic effect of this simple method could be recognized. In parallel to its utilization, the method was shaped in areas of industry and selfexperience. Today Naikan is the most important psychotherapeutical method in Japan. It is used in many hospitals, executive institutions and for the therapy of drug addicts.

Due to the potential-oriented approach, the practice - whereever it is necessary - leads (after overcoming initial psychological problems)- into the discovery of own possibilities and inner potentials. These express via increased intelligence, flexibility and joy of living. Naikan therefore is excellently predestined to be our todays instrument to discover meaning of living and to reestablish the base for every kind of motivation. Additionally Naikan is simple and secure in its application. The Naikan-Guide sees himself as a companion at a voyage of discovery. It is his main responsibility to listen, to encourage and to watch out that the safe area of the method is not left.

The participant himself is the one who controls the contents als well as the speed of the process. Regarding to a study at the University of Columbia, USA, it is shown that test persons, who also experienced western style life advisory/psychotherapy, accept Naikan more than others.

Naikan is more helpfull in its results and it solves problems faster. The approach of the Method Naikan falls back on an age old experience of mankind that was lost in modern industrial society. - It is the experience that silence and seclusion are doing good to our inner processes. Since the Forties - Developed by a Japanese Businessman Application as Psychotherapy, but Personal Development in Industry, too.

• Meaning of Living and Motivation

• Simple Method, Secure Application

• High Level of Selfdetermination during the Process

• American Study shows: Naikan is More Effective and BetterAaccepted

• Basis of the Method:  Silence and Seclusion and give us a reward via increased ability of understandingand coming to terms with life.

That's why one of the basic conditions for the application of Naikan is, to practice it on a quiet, protected place without any distraction.

The second basis for the process is the recognition, that we are living only, because many people and nature itself have taken care that we could survive. If we sum up all this, we can very well identify who and what was important for our life.

Out of that, by ourselves we find these things what are really essential for us - despite of programs, convictions and prejudices.

Forms of Application

Either the practice lasts one week, or it can be done within a several months process with one Naikan-day per month. An interesting new form is Kodo-Naikan, which is especially matched to the situation in business. Kodo-Naikan, in english Behaviour-Naikan, is a development of the japanese management consultant Tadashi Takahashi. Within this setting, seminar techniques, inner observation and coaching are combined to a joint process for six months. Kodo-Naikan aims to stabilize and utilize konstructive behaviour (based on inner evolution) of managers for the business-process. So a deficit of many western style personell-development programs (the subsiding of the seminars effects, already after some months) is eliminated.

Additionally to that, it opens up a deep understanding of communication, as well as having the possibility of better 'seeing through oneself and others'. Less showmanship and more capacity for problemsolving are the consequences of this process. This means to reach an enormous increase of personal efficiency as well as the strengthened ability to communicate aims and values.

Social Feeling as Basis for Insight and Change

Elimination of (Self-) Destructivity

Naikan-Week

Naikan-Day

Kodo-Naikan as Coaching-Process

An efficient instrument especially for managers, to develop inner potentials

ToDo-Institute (Constructive Learning Centre)

ToDo-Institute - Distance learning program

More links

For more Information:

I.N.A. Executive Chairman North America, Gregg Krech (ToDo- Institute) todo@together.net

Naikan adresses in the USA and Canada

Naikan adresses in Japan

Naikan adresses in Europe