By Ontiretse Motingwa and Nolwazi Xulu
North-West University (NWU) Prof Choja Oduaran of the School of Psychosocial Health presented her inaugural lecture on the evening of 7 October 2022.
The lecture, attended by academics, family members, friends and students, explored thoughts and behaviours for the resolution of life balances in an unsettled world.
Titled “Integrating thoughts and behaviours for the resolution of life balance: Clinical psychology for a troubled world”, Prof Oduaran’s lecture explained and addressed the issues humans fall victim to because of a non-balanced life.
She delved deeper to highlight how life balance is important to successfully identify the extent of fulfilment in significant life spheres. Furthermore, she focused on furnishing your overall life satisfaction through a series of strategies – involvement, competency, feelings and alignment.
Prof Oduaran said you achieve life balance when your desires and actual life activities are in harmony.
She added that, unfortunately, societal pressures often make it almost impossible for us to achieve a harmonious life balance.
She concluded her inaugural lecture with a question: “Does life balance actually matter?”, whereafter she retorted, “Yes it does - in all aspects of our lives”.
About Prof Choja Oduaran
Prof Choja Oduaran obtained her MSocSC degree in clinical psychology from the NWU and is the current deputy subject group leader of the Psychology Programme.
She is also the administrator of the Clinical Psychology Programme for the Mahikeng Campus, and is an active researcher in the research focus area Community Psychological Research and the Lifestyle Diseases research niche area.
Prof Oduaran has contributed to numerous international and national peer-reviewed journals and publications.
She has supervised several master’s and PhD students and has acted as an external examiner for other South African universities.
Prof Choja Oduaran receives her inauguration certificate from Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations.
