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The Inner Compass: Cultivating the Courage to Trust Yourself

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The more you know yourself, the less you look to others to get an idea of your worth.

We’re told to chase approval and achievement, but it’s only a matter of time before a crisis takes hold.

That’s because deep inside, we know that the only voice that leads to contentment is our own.

In The Inner Compass, Lawrence Yeo acts as a personal guide through the labyrinth of your inner world. He’ll start by revealing the source of all psychological tension we feel, and the reasons why we justify this pain. Then, once these barriers are dismantled, he'll share three foundational principles that will help dissolve your fears and strengthen your self-worth.

Fear is the tension of uncertainty, and courage is what helps you embrace the unknown. The Inner Compass is a timeless guide to building this courage, and will reveal how trusting your intuition is the surest path to a life well-lived.

142 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2025

91 people are currently reading
228 people want to read

About the author

Lawrence Yeo

2 books7 followers
Lawrence Yeo is the writer and illustrator of More To That. He creates illustrated stories on the human condition, and his work has been read by millions of people across the world.

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5 stars
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41 (30%)
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13 (9%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Jimmy Nyakora.
20 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2025
Insightful Without Being Preachy

As a long-term reader of Lawrence's work on his blog, More to That, I think this book is a perfect introduction to his work.

His writing centres around the theme of living well but what this book does is that it ties up the disparate challenges of what it means to live well into a simple and memorable framework based on Socrates's dictum: "Know thyself." 

 The themes of Mastery, Creativity, Writing and Relationships are thoughtfully woven in a concise 100-page treatment. That Lawrence can skillfully explore a breadth of themes in such a short space and span speaks not only to the Mastery of his craft but most importantly to his ability to draw from his lived experience which makes the work elevating yet grounded in reality.

I must warn you that at the beginning I felt restless about the book. The first Chapters lay the groundwork for the rest of the material so I'd say stay with it.

Midway through the book Lawrence hits you with the core of the message: self-understanding. 

The drawings, in pure Lawrencian fashion, are intuitive and adorable as usual.

I regret that I didn't buy the print edition because I'm on a tight student budget but it's worth having a physical copy of such a practical and insightful book.

323 reviews
July 22, 2025
Who created these stores I am telling myself?
-is it true?
-is it helpful?
-is it kind?

Conditioning (external) is the source of all suffering. Any time you have an expectation of becoming something you are not, that is conditioning. This even applies to the prior version of yourself.

Contentment doesn't reside in what you previously were, but rather in the embrace of what you currently are.

Reflect, Relate, Create
Reflect - to study the self and question what you find
--journal and ask "why" questions

Relate - to study the world and how you interact with it
--true friends/relationships are the ones that you have not to try to gain something from it, but because you love the person for who they are
--social status should not influence how you treat people (ie. you should not respect your boss more than you would respect your employee...you respect both of them equally)
--how you treat other people will be how you treat yourself

Create - to express what you've discovered about yourself and the world
--when you create, the goal should be mastery
--mastery is the quest to improve yourself as an end in itself
--comparisons are not made with other people, but only with prior versions of yourself
--you don't need external validation, just need to know you are improving
--look to other people who have mastered what you are working as as inspiration to know if you are also improving (don't need other people to tell you or "pay you" to validate you)

Reflect to calibrate; Relate to connect; Create to express

Self-understanding is a commitment to figuring out why you think the way you think. Envy is inversely correlated with self-examination. The less you know yourself, the more you look to others to get an idea of your worth. But the more you delve into who you are, the less you seek from others, ad the dissolution of envy begins.
17 reviews
September 18, 2025
Despite my aversion to self-help books, this one really cuts through without the fluff. It's short and to the point. I already enjoyed a lot of Lawrence Yeo's writing in his blog "More to That". When his book came out I thought let's give it a shot, and it truly was worth every bit of it. You can tell (because he tells you) that he values your time, and does not ramble on.

There's one contradiction that's the reason I'm only writing the review a month after finished the book. I wanted to give it 4 stars because of this contradiction. I finally made my peace with it and understood that it's finally about intention.

This is the fact that he praises and preaches in the book that you have to create as a form of self-expression without commodifying your craft or your creation. At the same time he's literally selling me his creation in the form of blog articles and a book. So his creation is being commodified. Ultimately I realised that his meaning was that your intention has to be creation for the sake of it, if it happens to be commodified that's just a bonus that adds financial gain to it. The true value coming from the fact that creation itself and commodification should not be the final goal or the desired result.


Profile Image for Matteo Bonfatti.
23 reviews
July 15, 2025
As a long-time avid More to That reader, I have been eagerly waiting for Lawrence Yeo to publish his first book. As soon as such an announcement was posted, I immediately enrolled in his reading group and purchased the book on the fly.
From my experience, it is common to be let down by books one had high expectations for. Gladly, this wasn’t the case for The Inner Compass.

I must start by saying that this almost felt more like a handy manual rather than a traditional book, mainly thanks to its conciseness and readability. It goes straight to the point without resorting to any unnecessary filler and provides short and insightful summaries to drive the main concepts home. In this regard, the amazing illustrations not only serve as a visual aids to reinforce memory retention, but also add a certain lightness that enhances the depth of the complex topics outlined.

It’s an amazing book and I’m sure I will revisit it multiple times. Thank you, Lawrence, for putting together this outstanding work and for all the great blog posts you wrote over the years!
Profile Image for Danny.
4 reviews
August 24, 2025
Lawrence cuts through the noise and communicates something that feels relevant today. Something that addresses the roots we don’t know, and what to do with that today. It is short but incredibly powerful and it has made me feel a lot more confident in going where my deepest soul feels like I need to go. It provides solid rationale for shattering the things like what I worry will people think for doing something different. Every page is a banger. I pretty much highlighted half the book with quotes. That’s Lawrence Yeo’s writing for you!
2 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2025
Quietly guiding

The gentleness of Lawrence’s writing is what has always attracted me to his work.This book is the natural extension of that skill in that he doesn’t hector but rather suggests that there are practical ways to know oneself better.Those ways are presented as coming from experience with a logic that made the whole book have an impact that I felt immediately.
Profile Image for Justin Davis.
11 reviews
September 26, 2025
DNF. Hyperbolic and over generalized in places and not well supported in many claims made. Appreciate its value for the reminder to be creative and find a way to express your thoughts.
Profile Image for Emre Güneş.
237 reviews6 followers
August 3, 2025
It’s a short reading out of which you have timeless advices. I felt so aligned with the author and his ideas. I liked it and think that you will too. Please give it a chance.
1 review4 followers
August 14, 2025
This book hit me at exactly the right time. It is perfect for the insecure overachiever, the person who has reached a certain level of success but finds themselves facing a philosophical roadblock, or anyone simply trying to know themselves better.

One of the most resonant ideas for me was the reminder that the way you judge and treat others is a reflection of how you will judge and treat yourself. It is simple but incredibly powerful in daily life, something you can put into practice immediately by pausing before you react.

I also appreciated the discussion on Knowledge vs. Experience, the idea that the book might help readers gain wisdom without enduring all of the author’s negative experiences. It made me reflect on when secondhand wisdom is enough versus when you need to live something yourself. Some lessons, like “do not do heroin,” are easy to take on faith. Others, like “money and material success will not make you happy,” are harder to accept without personal proof. The book encourages weaving these insights into your own life experiences for deeper understanding.

As someone who has meditated for years, I was intrigued by the contrast between traditional meditation, which is about observing without judgment, and the author’s journaling approach, which involves actively exploring why you have certain thoughts and the conditioning behind them. It is a more investigative method, and it has changed how I process what comes up in my mind.

The section on good versus bad conditioning left me thinking for days. And I loved the idea of true self-discovery through creating, which brought to mind the Howard Roark versus Peter Keating dynamic from The Fountainhead, staying true to your vision versus bending to external pressures.

This is more than a self-help book. It is a toolkit for self-inquiry, packed with ideas you will want to revisit, journal about, and discuss with friends. I have already passed my copy on to someone at work, and I suspect it will keep making the rounds.
Profile Image for Mia Ferreira.
183 reviews
September 21, 2025
I’ve been following and enjoying Lawrence’s blog for several years with its insightful and inspirational philosophical musing, so was keen to get my hands on this book.

And what better place to delve into something titled ‘the inner compass - cultivating the courage to trust yourself’? than on a month long yoga retreat where my main task is to work with and observe the self.

While I found the book to be a good introduction or summary for anyone who is new to the idea and practices of self reflection, and provided some great reminders about the role of conditioning and society in causing our personal suffering and limiting our self belief and confidence… it was a little too simplistic and top line and I found the ideas validating but not new or challenging enough.

I firmly disagree with the idea that meditation is not a good tool for self reflection - and I think the third step of creativity as self expressing may need more development as it lacked the conviction and grounding of the other ideas in the book.

Otherwise a great little reminder and prompt to discover and follow your own path in this crazy world of ours!
Profile Image for Amit.
120 reviews
November 16, 2025
The only thing that came after finishing the book is the genuineness of the author. You know for sure that the author had written every single word as he experienced and believed. He wrote for himself first to document what he felt to him at the point in his life and then thought to share it with the world so that it becomes of some value to other people as well. i liked that.

I've been following his blog for like 6 years now which are long but rarely boring. The cartoon character and the visualization helps a lot.

The key takeaways for me from the books are to be kind to people, treat everyone equally and see them as what they are as a fellow human being (in our journey to nothing) rather than what they can do for you in future and to not treat them as means to an end but as an end itself. We should genuinely try to be curious to get to know people.

Another is writing a journal, not to document 'what' but the why of it. To ask questions to ourselves to understand ourselves better.

The only complaint I have is that the pictures are not coloured. Since I know for sure he created color versions of it, but somehow this didn't happen in the book and the blue trouser wearing triangle shaped character which we see on the color is not the same inside without the colour.

To conclude, the book is small, to the point, if the point is to get to know yourself and if you're wondering how to do that, this book is perfect for you. Must read.
Profile Image for Lilly.
101 reviews
October 20, 2025
As a longtime reader of Lawrence Yeo’s blog, I’m so happy to see that he has finally written a book!

‘The Inner Compass’ is a succinct and value-packed book on how to reduce suffering caused by societal conditioning. The core idea is to “know thyself” through 3 things:

1. Reflect to calibrate — dig deeper into the “why” behind your feelings/actions
2. Relate to connect — don’t let social status taint your view of relationships
3. Create to express — cultivate agency in your life by choosing what you want to work on

These 3 things will bring you back on the path of following your true north — the state of being completely present and content.

What’s special about this book is the use of Lawrence’s iconic style of doodles. It really moves the story forward while conveying the key concepts in a vivid way.

I wouldn’t say the ideas were groundbreaking, but they were seamlessly weaved together to form a practical guide to following your intuition. Would pick this up whenever I feel lost about the path I’m on :”)
1 review
August 19, 2025
I thank the author, Lawrence Yeo, for making this book so simple and accessible through personal examples, lovely illustrations, and the thoughtfulness with which it is laid out. 🐝

The sharing of the deep principles of self-understanding resonated strongly.
Reflect - Relate - Create, was rooted both in reflection and what one can act upon from that understanding.🌿

The distinction between self and conditioning and the definition of conditioning, the definition of fear, the easy-to-align definition of intuition, the distinction between personal diary filling-up and journalling, knowing what status and mastery is - found deep resonance.

I hope to gift this to many, and I hope your book creates a ripple effect of practice and self-understanding.🦋

For those like me who like short and insightful books, and love it when there are invitations to action, this is a beautiful book to read and practice. 🐦‍⬛
1 review
September 10, 2025
A modern bible for anyone living in today’s world. For the teenager, who is unsure how they fit in, to the perimenopausal woman (me!), who still grapples with self worth and how to use her own inner compass.

I say this as someone who has diligently participated in a decade of therapy and worked with a Zen Buddhist monk.

The art brings a cute levity to such important messages. They remind me of the Clip Art days of the early 2000s, which then nostalgically cues me to pause on how much I have journeyed.

Lawrence Yeo is an incredibly gifted communicator with a voice that feels like a safe big brother. I love thumbing through and reading a few passages in the morning and at night to ground myself into who I am and why I’m here.

Thank you for the excellence. I’m ordering the AudioBook for my roadtrips to see if I may glean his insights differently in that medium. Looking forward to sharing this wonderful book with my love on our next roadtrip!
Profile Image for Vladimir Grigorov.
111 reviews21 followers
October 12, 2025
I have followed the author’s blog for a long time, and I was afraid the book may be a mix of his previous posts, “content repurposing” as they call it. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a fresh story. Reading it feels like reading a blog post of his, just a bit longer, but not too long to become annoying. I liked the idea of the inner compass and there’s a lot about conditioning and self-reflection to think about.

On the downside, I missed the original Lawrence Yeo style from the blog - as if here he had tried to be more restrained and sound more formal and academic. Even the illustrations, Lawrence’s trademark, are more scarce and serious. I would prefer exactly the opposite and feel more of the original author’s creativity. Anyway, it was a great read and I’m looking forward to his next books!
1 review
September 26, 2025
The Inner Compass is a simple and profound collection of wisdom, easy and quick to read, and entertaining along the way. The book was a wonderful companion during my morning coffee and an inspiring way to start the day. Lawrence Yeo has a gift for making potentially abstract, confusing, or deep concepts relatable and understandable. His writing has been integral to my own journey of self-discovery and healing, and each time I engage with his work, I feel small pieces of myself shift, unlock, and open, leading to a greater recognition of who I am. I highly recommend The Inner Compass and Lawrence's blog (moretothat.com).
1 review
October 9, 2025
There’s more insight packed into these 100 pages than in any other best-selling nonfiction book I’ve read this year.
Forget the usual anecdotes about Thomas Jefferson, LeBron James, or Queen Elizabeth—this is a clear, no-fluff exploration of why we so often listen to others instead of ourselves when it matters most. It distills the best thinking of one of the most brilliant philosophers of our time, Lawrence Yeo.
I’ve read it three times now, and each time I come away with new questions about what it truly means to live a well-lived life—which, in many ways, is even better than having the answers. This book is pure food for the mind. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Profile Image for Mike Rice.
19 reviews3 followers
December 31, 2025
Lawrence does a fantastic job o fpacking a powerful punch of insight - with no small dose of wisdom - into a few short pages. The concepts Lawrence offers here are easy to understand and accessible to anyone who wants to make the greatest impact on their lives with the least effort.

For me, the book actually helped expand self-awareness around my past experiences with creativity and the tragic pitfalls that snared me. With expanded awareness and renewed passion, I am looking forward to getting back to my creative outlets.

Regardless of where you are in your personal growth journey, you can't really go wrong with this book.
2 reviews
September 25, 2025
The Inner Compass is an inspiring and beautifully written book that truly makes you stop and reflect. It’s packed with wisdom, practical insights, and heartfelt stories that guide you toward living with more clarity and purpose. What I love most is how relatable and actionable it feels — not just abstract ideas, but real guidance you can apply every day. This book has helped me shift my perspective and stay grounded through life’s challenges. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful direction and motivation!
13 reviews
October 2, 2025
Great read and guide to self reflect on who you truly are and want to become. I appreciate the simple and personal way to approach how to connect to who we truly are and accept the messy path there. Furthermore, including relationships as a way to get to know each other better is a great asset in the book. Thanks for sharing these useful and practical tools to calibrate the resources for our inner compass
Profile Image for Deborah.
1 review1 follower
December 26, 2025
The Inner Compass van Lawrence Yeo is een prachtig geïllustreerde en diep inzichtelijke reis naar het zelf, die je uitnodigt om je innerlijke stem terug te vinden in een rumoerige wereld. Wat vooral krachtig is, zijn de toepasbare inzichten: Yeo geeft je concrete principes om je True North te vinden. Een absolute aanrader voor iedereen die op zoek is naar helderheid, moed en een authentiekere manier van leven.
Profile Image for Jonathan.
54 reviews3 followers
July 8, 2025
What I love about this book, and Lawrence’s writing in general, is it helps me think about life in ways I hadn’t previously considered. I’m already using the framework from the Inner Compass and highly suggest giving it a try. If you’re on the path toward finding meaning, this book is for you!

Knowing myself a little better everyday, a work in progress.
124 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2025
A short book I know I’ll return to again, and recommend to others. It carries a powerful message about knowing and embracing yourself. The closing lines struck me deeply: "In the end, a well-lived life is a collection of moments that were imbued with presence. By embracing who you are today, you are contributing to the peace you will feel in that final moment when no more tomorrows remain."
4 reviews
November 20, 2025
there is always room for improvement, but this one was great for me, short and to the point. Easy for me to understand and follow along. I enjoyed it and will re-read it again just to appreciate the findings that he implemented. I find myself slow to grasp things at time, but this one hit the core.

2 reviews
July 24, 2025
Lawrence has been one of my favorite authors.

He delivered again, making a rather difficult topic so simple to understand. Somehow his writing always surfaces when I most need it.

Recommend this timeless piece!
1 review
August 29, 2025
Short and to the point! Graduated to this book after following the author for years on his blog.

I read it over 2-4 reading "sessions". Being short made it quite easy to "recover" where I left when I continued.

Always a pleasure reading Lawrence Yeo!
1 review
September 4, 2025
Wonderful book from an excellent author. A timeless idea and refreshing perspective on how our greatest wisdom lives within us, buried under layers of conditioning and societal norms. You will love this book.
1 review
August 1, 2025
Love it! I find it very well written and, what is most important, it offers a very unique perspective compared to other books on the topic.
1 review
December 13, 2025
It is a refreshing read. The author has decided to keep it short and sweet. Their message gets across very effectively and it is a very original take on the subject. Highly recommended.
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