IMBA- 5Year Program, ( School of Management Studies ), LJ K U  

As a part of the academic enrichment and holistic skill development initiative, LJ University’s Integrated MBA - 5 Year P rogram  has  organized  FDP on Mind Matters: Self Talk. A  much-needed  aspect in today’s days where mental health and wellbeing is becoming a concern in the upcoming generations, a generation with whom the faculties and admin istrative staff  are constantly interacting  and groping with their issues.  

Objective  

The primary  objective  of this Faculty Development Program (FDP) was to empower faculty members to become their own  counsellors . By providing them with practical, mind-management techniques, the program aimed to help them navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and confidence . The core goal was to shift the focus from external dependency to internal resilience, enabling participants to manage their thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being proactively.    

Today, in the world people across the business world are under tremendous stress due to expectations on performance, immense stress, lack of focus, poor health, low  immunity  and lack of healthy relationships. Faculties and administrative staff are constantly interacting with Gen Z students who come with these new set of challenges .   This is where, we as student mentors  have to  show the way to cope with self and deliver in the tough performance-oriented world.   

Process  

The FDP was structured to provide a holistic understanding of self- counseling  through a combination of theoretical models and hands-on exercises.  

The session began by addressing the fundamental process of  changing thought patterns . Participants learned to  identify  the characteristics of their thinking, understand the effects these thoughts have on their lives, and recognize the feelings they generate. It was  established  that feelings are often a direct result of our thoughts, which can be influenced by internal and external factors such as anxiety and depression. The program introduced  the concept of the  locus of control , emphasizing that empowerment comes from focusing on what can be controlled, rather than external circumstances.  

The FDP also highlighted a core principle: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This served as a powerful metaphor for  turning adversity into opportunity . The program provided strategies for positive self-talk to address the three crucial areas of life:  health, performance, and relationships .  

Two key frameworks were presented to guide this process:  

Additionally, the session explored the  Four Quadrants of Knowledge  as a path to self-improvement:  

Outcome:  

Finally, participants learned to manage common negative  behaviors . The FDP provided a framework to  address blaming others  by taking responsibility, and to find a healthy balance between  shaming yourself  and making  justifications  for your actions. Instead, the focus was on  identifying  negative patterns and their  roots, and  using a "postpone strategy" to stop a negative cycle before it starts.  

Conclusion  

The "Mind Matters: Be Your Counsellor" FDP successfully equipped faculty members with a comprehensive set of tools to improve their self-awareness and emotional regulation. By understanding and applying models like the ABC theory and the RISE formulae, participants gained a new perspective on how to manage their inner dialogue. The program effectively  demonstrated  that by mastering positive self-talk and consciously working through negative patterns, they could improve their health, performance, and relationships,  ultimately leading  to a more fulfilling and productive life.  

This FDP serves as a vital first step in promoting a culture of mental well-being and resilience within the faculty community.  

Brief Summary:  

The Faculty Development Program (FDP) on "Mind Matters: Be Your Counsellor" was a comprehensive workshop designed to equip faculty members with the psychological tools and self- counseling  techniques necessary to navigate both personal and professional challenges. The core  objective  was to empower participants to take control of their mental well-being by understanding their thought patterns and emotional responses. The FDP introduced several key theoretical frameworks, including the ABC theory  on cognitive behaviour  (Activating event, Belief, Consequence) for  analyzing  thoughts and the RISE formulae (Roots, Impact, Select, Empower) for creating positive  behavioral  changes.  

Practical applications were a central focus, with sessions dedicated to using positive self-talk to manage anxiety and depression, and to improve performance in key areas of life: health, work, and relationships.  The program also explored the four quadrants of knowledge—from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence—as a model for continuous self-improvement.  Participants learned to  identify  their inner critic, challenge negative thoughts, and develop strategies to turn  difficult situations  into opportunities. Overall, the FDP provided a powerful toolkit for self-awareness and resilience, helping faculty members become more effective leaders in their own lives.