As a leader in the realm of internal audits, I’ve traversed many challenging landscapes. However, the pivotal transformation in my approach to leadership and audit efficacy came from an unexpected quarter - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Initially skeptical, my journey with CBT began not in a therapist’s office, but rather through a personal development bootcamp where the principles of CBT were integrated into our learning modules. This experience fundamentally altered my perspective on leadership within internal audit.

Discovering CBT: A Personal Story

My awakening to the power of CBT unfolded during an intense period in my mission when my desire to impress with my abilities and competency simply took over. 

One evening, after a particularly stressful day, I found myself questioning every decision I made - spiraling down a path of negative thinking. I was fortunate I had discovered these simple techniques and I knew immediately how to transform my thoughts.

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As I went through life, I accumulated a set of deep beliefs that, at the time, I did not know would influence every decision I take in life: whether for my personal or professional life.  

One of the most prominent beliefs I ever had was: ‘Work hard and you will be successful’.

So I did. I went into competitions where I was competing against the best. I went into schools and work environments in different languages: French first and then English. I pushed myself to always be the best.

But once I was mastering that environment and getting recognition for my work, I was starting to realize that it was not enough.  

Nothing seemed to offer me fulfillment and happiness.

So my quest for searching these two feelings began.

My very first wish in my first ever Bootcamp on personal development was to be less shy.

Then I moved into wanting to be more confident.

After a while it became wanting to be happier, to change my environment, my circumstances, the country I...

Each of us wants to live a meaningful life. Finding our purpose might seem like an intimidating goal that we all have to achieve, and it might seem like we will be looking for it throughout our entire life. However, it doesn't have to be like that. As soon as you become aware of your identity and your feelings, your purpose becomes apparent. You must take hold of your emotions, identify what you truly like, establish your values, and clarify what drives and motivates you every single day. From there, you will be able to find your purpose easily. 

Be present in your life  

You begin to feel enthusiastic about your life the moment you start living in the present. It becomes a way of living every day with passion as if every moment needs to be cherished. No matter how long you're stuck in traffic, rather than being frustrated, you must make the most of the time. 

Let’s say you’re stuck in traffic, but you are with your loved one surrounded by nature....

How can I increase my confidence and self-esteem?

This question has been on my mind for quite some time. I remember I wanted to have more self-confidence when I began my personal development journey. I wanted to enter a room without feeling anxious about my own presence. I wanted to be able to hold myself up without feeling like my body is going to start shaking or sweating. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of feeling like I am in charge of my life no matter what would happen around me. Even though I feel confident enough, there are still moments when I feel as though I must prove something to myself or others. However, I also feel like I have mastered my life to some extent due to the level of confidence I gained in myself and the decisions I took to change every aspect of my life. I now feel in control of my destiny and thoughts every day. 

But this wasn't an overnight process. As I reflected on who I am and how I can move forward, I evolved personally and...

No matter where you are in your life right now, finding gratitude for the things you already have is important. It is also a vital technique to reduce stress and stop worrying. The moment you take a step back and realize that you are grateful for what you already have, you begin to realize that your worries are insignificant. You stop feeling that you are not enough by acknowledging how much you have achieved in your life; how great you are; and how skillful and knowledgeable you are in your field of expertise.

Be grateful for the littlest things

The more grateful you are for your life and everything you have, the greater will be your self-worth. It's as simple as writing it down every single day. There is always something to be grateful for, no matter how small. Gratitude is simple to express, such as I am thankful for breathing. I appreciate being able to speak with you through these words. My life experience has given me the ability to help others, so I am grateful for that....

People will experience stress and frustration in stressful environments, and this is a universal experience. Throughout our lifetime, we are bound to face multiple stressful experiences. Do you feel the same way? Is stress plaguing you lately? In today's environment, stress can creep up on us or knock us flat. Stress affects so many of us, whether it is daily or on an occasional basis. Stress is a real problem, but how do you cope with it?

This may be attributed to the fear we feel every day that we may not measure up to our own expectations and that others may not appreciate us enough. We have a tendency to feel that we are always making mistakes and that being afraid to take risks is a result of every time we make mistakes. We can't take the next step into our lives without feeling a sense of fear that we are going to lose what we already have. There are times when we fear retribution from others. Stress is one of the most common ways in which many people experience it,...

Take a moment to reflect. What is your level of self-criticism? How kind are you to yourself and how well do you speak to yourself? Do you always feel guilty and doubtful—like you're not always good enough? Do you ever feel like you are being too harsh on yourself?

           It is time to make a change if any of these apply to you. You will never feel like you are good enough or see the value you bring to the world no matter how much you have achieved in your business. In the event that you are unaware of the skills and abilities that you possess, it is important to take some time to reevaluate who you are, what you have accomplished, and what you bring into this world. There is no better time than now to realize that you are already contributing to the world.

Stop being your own worst critique

            Your overthinking and self-criticism won't stop...

Our goal in this article is to get a better understanding of which areas in your life don't work as well as you would like them to or perhaps you are not yet where you would like to be. But in order for you to get there, you need to have clarity. Therefore, we are going to explore who you are and what you have in various areas of your life. In this way, you will regain and harness all the power you lost, and you will use it as leverage toward the kind of life you want. 

Oftentimes, people mimic the behavior and emotions of others. Then they tend to spring into action without analyzing the situation deeply. I congratulate you because you do not belong to this category, and you never will, as long as you are here with me. This should be kept in mind. As we move forward, let's discuss each of the areas of our lives: 

Health and fitness 

The first one is health and fitness. Why is this important, you might be wondering. Having a good shape is essential for everyone....

Emotions. A word so simple yet so complex at the same time. A lot of people like to explore their emotions, and a lot of others like to stay away from them. One way or another, emotions influence every aspect of our life, even when you don’t realize it at first. Have you ever figured out how your emotions influence yours? 

Control your emotions before they control you

The truth is, every single emotion you are feeling on a daily basis has the power to take you towards a different path. Emotions aren’t constant, and they can be dangerous when not controlled. If you feel anger every day, people will associate you with it and it will eventually define yourself and the relationship you have with those around you. If you feel optimistic every day, then you most likely attract like-minded, positive, and passionate people who are happy with who they are, yet also taking the time to improve themselves. If you are never satisfied with what you have, then no matter how much...

In life, it is common for people to walk through their path with a blanket of ignorance and not knowing what they really need to lead and achieve fulfilling lives. They struggle in a job they hate; they fight with their partner, or they raise children who grow up to be emotionally off-balanced. Their lives are seemingly running on autopilot—and then comes the time where it all crashes down and they are left to wonder where it all went. Their accomplishments and their regrets all come to the surface, exposed for all the criticizing eyes to see.

           Where you are now is the result of the decisions you have made and the challenges you overcame in the past. All those decisions were made in line with your needs at that time. Ensuring that you understand helps you become a lot more self-aware, and with self-awareness comes the ability to assess what you need to assess for your own betterment.

Now, what drives us? How do we...