Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: Choosing Feelings, Indirectly

Posted on June 12, 2025 by RealityCheck

How are you feeling? If you’re feeling good, can you hang on to that feeling? If you’re feeling bad, can you change that feeling? Last column, I said that Dr. Glasser offers an approach toward gaining control over our feelings. … Continue reading →

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged choosing actions, examining options, perception, total behaviour | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Present Day

Posted on June 5, 2025 by RealityCheck

We have so many opportunities to find reasons to be upset, anxious, angry, or have other difficult feelings. Your upsets might come from your personal life, from the behaviour of people close to you, such as family, community, or workplace. … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged anxiety, choosing thoughts, confidence, internal & external control, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: Name That Emotion

Posted on May 29, 2025 by RealityCheck

What emotion are you feeling right now? Take a moment; think about it. Is it curiosity? Joy? Sadness? Enthusiasm? Frustration? Loneliness? Optimism? It’s easy to develop a belief that our emotions control us and that we don’t have much say … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged anxiety, confidence, feelings, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Whys and Hows of Relationships

Posted on May 22, 2025 by RealityCheck

Relationships are a big deal in Choice Theory, where much of Dr. Glasser’s writings address how to improve relationships. Yet if we look at current culture, we could get the impression that it’s the disputes that are applauded, not efforts … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged choosing actions, examining wants, improving relationships, need satisfaction | Comments Off

Reality Check: While We’re Waiting…

Posted on May 15, 2025 by RealityCheck

Are you waiting for something? I’ll bet that you are! Right now, I’m waiting for an appointment date, an order that hasn’t arrived, and a clarification promised by a company. And I’m sure that if I think harder, I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing actions, choosing thoughts, frustration, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: One Good Thing

Posted on May 9, 2025 by RealityCheck

“Structured reality therapy” is an approach that Dr. Wm. Glasser developed and used for marriage counselling. Like some other aspects of Choice Theory, the process sounds almost simplistic; essentially it begins by having both people answer five straightforward questions. Simplicity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing influences, choosing thoughts, conflict, discouragement, improving relationships | Comments Off

Reality Check: Five Questions Meet a Conflict

Posted on April 30, 2025 by RealityCheck

Some people take a spontaneous seat-of-the-pants approach to life, while others find structure more satisfying. Personally, I find structure helpful: shopping lists, appointment calendars, journal reminders. Tools of this sort may not work perfectly, but they can help us develop … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged conflict, examining wants, improving relationships | Comments Off

Reality Check: Can We Resolve This Dispute?

Posted on April 25, 2025 by RealityCheck

Some of us like to solve problems. In fact, we might even identify ourselves as problem-solvers, based on successful problem solving incidents in our past! It’s satisfying to be able to assess a situation, interact with the involved parties, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged conflict, dissatisfaction, examining wants, improving relationships | Comments Off

Reality Check: To Make It Easier

Posted on April 16, 2025 by RealityCheck

When looking for information a while ago, I phoned a local business. I wasn’t quite as prepared as I like to be. Some of us, you know, like to have all our questions lined up beforehand so we are clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged encouragement, examining wants, offering information | Comments Off

Reality Check: What Do We Deserve?

Posted on April 12, 2025 by RealityCheck

“I don’t deserve this!” I’m sure you’ve heard it said and maybe even said it yourself. A typical context is, “I’m a good person. I don’t deserve this bad thing that’s happening to me.” You could be right. We see … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged anxiety, blame, choosing thoughts, gratitude, perception | Comments Off