
01
Federally Chartered
Degree Awarding Institute
Recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC)
NEWS LETTER
VOL-II | ISSUE-9 | SEPTEMBER 2024
CENTER FOR WELL-BEING AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
The True Power of Positive Thinking:
Beyond Myths and Misconceptions
Y U M N A .QURESH I @ I A C.EDU.PK
Y U M N A QURESH I
Dear Readers,
In a world where the concept of positive thinking is widely celebrated, it’s important to
discern its true value from the myths that often surround it. One common
misconception is that maintaining a perpetually positive outlook will shield us from life’s
challenges. However, this belief can lead to toxic positivity, where negative emotions
are suppressed rather than addressed. Positive thinking, in its healthiest form, is not
about denying difficulties but about facing them with resilience and hope. This
balanced approach, often referred to as realistic optimism, acknowledges the
existence of challenges while maintaining the belief that positive outcomes are
possible.
Another myth is the idea that positive thinking alone can manifest success, a notion
popularized by concepts like the Law of Attraction. While a positive mindset can
certainly influence our behavior and interactions, it is the actions we take, guided by
this mindset, that truly lead to change. Positive thinking should inspire us to set realistic
goals, develop actionable plans, and adapt in the face of setbacks, rather than relying
solely on wishful thinking.
Ultimately, the power of positive thinking lies in its ability to motivate and sustain us
through challenges, not in its ability to magically alter circumstances. By embracing a
balanced approach that combines optimism with action, we can harness the true
potential of positive thinking. It’s this integration of hopeful thinking and purposeful
action that leads to genuine well-being and success, rather than the unrealistic
expectation of constant positivity or effortless outcomes.
POWER OF
RESILIENCE
NAILA JAMIL
NAILA.JAMIL@GIU.EDU.PK
Resilience is humans amazing ability to
bounce back and even flourish in the face
of serious life challenges. Many people may
not know they possess resilience until
confronted with trauma or crisis.
Maintenance, recovery, or improvement in
mental or physical health following a
challenge is identified as resilience
(Baumgardner, 2009).
Think about the elasticity of a rubber band:
you can stretch it until it seems it might
break, but then it returns to its original
shape, completely unchanged and
unharmed. That’s resilience!
A resilient person is someone who has
strong coping skills and is able to marshal
their available resources, ask for help when
needed, and find ways to manage the
situation they are facing. People with
psychological resilience are able to use
their skills and strengths to respond to life's
challenges. It does not mean that resilient
people are suffering from Alexithymia.
People with resilience do not experience
less distress, grief, or anxiety than other
people do.
Instead, they use healthy coping skills to
handle such difficulties in ways that foster
strength and growth, often emerging
stronger than they were before.
MIRFANKISANA@GMAIL.COM
PSYCHOLOGIST, ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST
GENERAL SECRETARY: PAKISTAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Altruistic Love and Subjective Well Being
Social scientists have found several ways to achieve happiness, but for me, the best
and easiest way to remain happy in life is Altruistic Love.
It is defined as selfless concern for the sufferings of others, acting for their welfare,
supporting or benefiting deprived humans with genuine kindness, and being present
at the moment of need. This behavior basically stems from Altruism: a term which was
developed by a French Sociologist, named Auguste Comte in the early 1850’s. The
terms, altruism, generosity, empathy and compassion sound similar, yet it is important
to differentiate between these four.
Altruism love is an important moral value in every society and religion, although its
objective and method vary. Humans are not born selfish, as conventional wisdom may
suggest. In contrast, several theories propose that selfishness is inherited, present at
birth, and usually develops in infancy.
Today, scientists are exploring if altruistic love is present in our DNA or a slight variation
in a particular gene is associated with this behavior. This investigation has resulted in
the development of two new areas of study; Altruistic Biology and Altruistic Psychology.
Furthermore, it has been proven that societal norms, upbringing and personal beliefs
also influence this act of kindness. However, humans also need to be reprogrammed
to cooperate and help others as they grow up. Thus, this skill is worth developing at
later stage of life as well.
It is noteworthy that altruistic love is a very powerful force in the world. This can be
manifested in infinite ways, such as running your own NGO, arranging free medical
camps, giving donations, sponsoring education, arranging dowries for poor girls,
installation of mini water filter plants, providing food to hungry, sharing helpful
experiences, offering support, or giving an honest advice to someone, etc.
Modern research indicates that engaging in acts of altruism correlates with increased
positive emotions and higher life satisfaction, contributing to enhanced subjective
well-being. In short, if I had a choice of only one guideline to live by, I will choose: Be
regretful to die until you have won some victory for the well-being of humanity.
MUHAMMAD IRFAN KISANA
Ms. Shamsa, in her role as a teaching
assistant, has consistently gone above
and beyond in supporting both faculty
and students alike.
Her commitment to excellence is evident
in her meticulous attention to detail, and
her proactive approach to assisting in
the classroom. Ms. Shamsa's willingness
to help, and her positive attitude have
made her an indispensable part of our
academic community.
Beyond her role as a teaching assistant,
Ms. Shamsa has demonstrated a deep
passion for fostering learning and
growth among students.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms.
Shamsa for her hard work,
professionalism, and dedication to our
institution's mission.
Thank you, Ms. Shamsa, for being an
outstanding member of our team. Your
contributions are truly appreciated and
valued.
SHAMSA.AHMAD@IAC.EDU.PK
This Award Is For You
Faculty Of The Month
SHAMSA AHMAD