
01
Federally Chartered
Degree Awarding Institute
Recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC)
NEWSLETTER
VOL-II | ISSUE-11 | November 2024
CENTER FOR WELL-BEING AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Be a Child Again and Enhance your Well-Being
PROF. DR. SHABBIR AHMAD RANA
Preventing Burnout with Mindfulness and
Self-Care
Y U M N A .QURESH I @ I A C.EDU.PK
Y U M N A QURESH I
Burnout is a growing concern for many of us juggling the demands of work, family, and
personal aspirations. The relentless pace of life can leave us feeling drained, but there
are practical ways to prevent it. Mindfulness and self-care are two powerful strategies
to safeguard our well-being.
Mindfulness, the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment, offers a
powerful antidote to the stress and overwhelm that lead to burnout. Techniques like
deep breathing, meditation, and mindful walking help calm the mind, reduce anxiety,
and bring clarity to chaotic situations. These practices allow us to step back, assess our
priorities, and respond with intention rather than react out of exhaustion.
Equally important is self-care, which involves intentionally nurturing your physical,
emotional, and mental health. Setting boundaries, getting adequate sleep, staying
hydrated, and engaging in activities that bring joy are essential to maintaining
balance. Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for long-term resilience and productivity.
By incorporating mindfulness and self-care into your daily routine, you can create a
buffer against burnout, ensuring you’re not just surviving but thriving. Remember,
taking care of yourself is the first step toward giving your best to others.
*To be continued on the next page *To be continued on the next page
Approval to start new program
“BS in Positive Psychology”
Raising Awareness for Breast
Cancer: A Joint Initiative of
Center for Well-Being &
Positive Psychology and
Pink Ribbon, Pakistan
The 11th Meeting of the Academic Council
was held on 26th November, 2024 at
Conference Room of IAC, Lahore. The
meeting was presided by Pro Vice
Chancellor, Prof. Dr Najam Najam. The
Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Deans,
Director, QEC, Librarian and all Academic
and Administrative Heads being members
of the council attended this meeting. In
meeting, Agenda Item: 01 to Agenda Item:24,
pertaining to academic and administrative
issues were placed before the members for
discussion and to take decisions.
Prof. Dr. Shabbir Ahmad Rana, HOD, Center
for Well-Being and Positive Psychology,
presented the Agenda Items 11 and 12
related to establishment of Department of
Psychology and under its umbrella to start a
new Program: BS in Positive Psychology. Dr.
Rana emphasized the importance of this
new program and its future in the academic
market. Its relevance was highlighted in
addressing mental health issues and overall
well-being, aligning with IAC’s mission of
fostering personal, academic and
professional growth of students and its
potential benefit for faculty, and the wider
community. The Council members
commended the role of CWPP and
unanimously approved these two agenda
items. The approval marked a historic
milestone, making IAC the first institution to
introduce this innovative program: BS in
Positive Psychology first time in Pakistan.
SHABBIR.AHMAD@IAC.EDU.PK
*To be continued on the next page
Childhood is the period of life between infancy and puberty. It is a time of significant
growth and development, marked by many developmental milestones and changes. It
is an old saying that: Childhood is the most beautiful of all life seasons. Social scientist
emphasizes that generally childhood is one of the most enjoyable periods of one’s life,
while adulthood is marked by responsibilities and worries. In adulthood people are
devoid of fun and enjoyment of the childhood. However, by removing the mask of
adulthood, one can rediscover the sense of wonder, spontaneity and fun often missing
in “grownups”. After reading this verse, you may be saying to yourself, SURE, I’d love to
be a child again and have nothing to worry about. But I have family responsibilities, job
stress, financial worries and other problems to consider. How can I be like a child and
still be a responsible adult?
In fact, a voluntary return to a childlike state doesn’t mean you have to give up being
an adult. As Wayne Dyer mentioned in his book; The Sky’s the Limit, it simply means
letting go a bit, remembering your original wide-eyed and spontaneous appreciation
of the world and everything and everyone in it. The pleasant childhood memories
become woven into the very fabric of our beings, Shaping and impacting us well into
adulthood. If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older. Here are six
simple ways of being a child again.
1.Laughter: A child in you loves to laugh. Sometimes, children will laugh about minor
issues and sometimes for “nothing at all”, just out of sheer joy. If you are not laughing at
all, try taking yourself less seriously. You can recall your childhood experiences where
you behaved foolishly and can laugh them off. The next time something happens that
upsets you, ask yourself, “Is this anything I could laugh about later?”. If so, maybe you
can laugh it off now. Remember, laughter is one of the best medicines in the world.
2.Fantasy: It is something you imagine which might involve toys, unicorns, or an
imaginary friend, etc. Children love to fantasize and dream, to use their imagination
and so would you if you’d let yourself fantasize. Remember, when you were young, how
you use to trick your friends, hiding your cookies from your siblings, your room filled with
silly collections that you were proud of. Imagining and recalling your childhood days of
fun and enjoyment could bring joy and fun in your present moment as well.
3.Spontaneity: It means doing something without thinking it through beforehand. The
child in you cries out to be impulsive and adventurous. Yet spontaneity is one of the
easiest things for grownups to squelch in themselves and in their children. We
constantly remind our children to be overly conscious. In this way we instill a fear of the
unknown and take away their natural curiosity about life. If you have a totally planned
life with all your goals spelled out, with organization and orderliness and being
meticulous in everything you do, you have forgotten how to be a child.
Recently, our Center for Well-Being and
Positive Psychology had the privilege of
collaborating with Pink Ribbon Pakistan to
host a special Breast Cancer Awareness
event. The highlight of the day was a visit
from the CEO of Pink Ribbon, Mr. Aftab Omer,
along with Ms. Faiqa Ahmer, youth
programme manager. Mr. Omer shared
inspiring insights on the importance of early
detection, proactive health care, and the
power of community support in the fight
against breast cancer.