Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: Greater Expectations

Posted on November 12, 2018 by RealityCheck

I’d caught the tail end of a conversation about math scores and a possible connection with the practice of moving students along in grade level regardless of whether they’ve mastered skills. It’s possible that I misunderstood. I’m sure what I … Continue reading →

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged learning, need satisfaction, persistence, power | Comments Off

Reality Check: Your Menu Choices

Posted on November 4, 2018 by RealityCheck

If you want something to grow, it’s generally a good idea to feed it. Don’t want more? Then don’t feed it. That reasoning seems to hold true for the waistline; what if we apply it to emotions? Noreen looks back … Continue reading →

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged examining options, fairness, frustration, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: What we choose to want

Posted on October 28, 2018 by RealityCheck

We do a lot of comparing, don’t we? In Choice Theory, Dr. Glasser even talks about a “comparing place” in our brains. He uses the image of a balance scale; on one side sits what we want and on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing actions, dissatisfaction, examining options, examining wants | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Disillusioned Learner

Posted on October 22, 2018 by RealityCheck

Barb tried gardening last year for the first time. It was awesome! Barb was ecstatic with her beautiful tomatoes and huge cucumbers. Her marigolds flowered and her sunflowers were so very sunny. Barb was hooked. All winter, she said, “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning | Tagged dissatisfaction, encouragement, frustration, learning, persistence | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Minute of Kindness

Posted on October 14, 2018 by RealityCheck

One of the email addresses that I’m responsible for is similar to that of an organization far, far away. So, sometimes I receive email that was intended for someone else. Occasionally, it’s obvious that a message is important to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged gratitude, helpful, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: Fear and the Unknown

Posted on October 7, 2018 by RealityCheck

If you’ve ever had a serious medical issue, then it’s safe to say you have experienced fear. That fear may be about unknowns: How will this turn out? Will I be ok? When I was catching up with Sara some … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged perception, total behaviour, worry | Comments Off

Reality Check: Same Reality, Different Perspectives

Posted on September 30, 2018 by RealityCheck

Within my circle of friends and acquaintances, I hear more and more folks say, “I don’t listen to the news anymore.” Considering that we live in a time when news from all over is readily available, the decision to tune … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing influences, choosing thoughts, helpful, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: When Fairness Holds Us Back

Posted on September 23, 2018 by RealityCheck

The mother-daughter conflict story told in Choice Theory by Dr. Glasser that I’ve been referring to has one more interesting dimension that some of us might find troubling. Briefly, the story goes like this: Mom works all day and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged "should", examining wants, fairness, improving relationships | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Available Choices

Posted on September 17, 2018 by RealityCheck

Are you ever in a situation where you have no good choices? It’s especially difficult if you can picture the perfect choice. You wish that option was available; you might even mislead yourself into believing it exists, when in fact, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged conflict, examining options, examining wants, improving relationships, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: What would you choose?