Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: Is It Just Too Much?

Posted on May 28, 2017 by RealityCheck

Self-evaluation is the process of examining what we are doing and determining whether we’re moving in the direction we want. It can be helpful in many situations. Take Bruce, who works long and hard at work and in life. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged "should", choosing actions, responsibility, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Tired and Cranky, Anyone?

Posted on May 21, 2017 by RealityCheck

By the time I’d finished reading an article promoting an approach to education that I don’t happen to agree with, I felt tired and a tad cranky. I was fine before I started reading. So, what happened? When it comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing, Thinking, Feeling, Physiology | Tagged motivation, need satisfaction, self-evaluation, total behaviour | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Meltdown

Posted on May 14, 2017 by RealityCheck

A thousand miles away, my usually sunny friend—she who chooses the most positive possible interpretation of everything—had a meltdown. It’s understandable. She’s been living with the reality of several family members diagnosed with cancers. Then, her mom took a tumble … Continue reading →

Posted in How it is sometimes | Tagged "should", anxiety, need satisfaction, offering information, responsibility | Comments Off

Reality Check: The two sides of protection

Posted on May 7, 2017 by RealityCheck

Could anyone possibly be against something named “Safe Food for Canadians”? The recent discussion around potentially negative impacts of new food safety regulations on small food producers is a good reminder that just because something has an appealing name doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged basic needs, freedom, making choices, responsibility, win-win | Comments Off

Reality Check: It wasn’t what I expected

Posted on April 30, 2017 by RealityCheck

The other day, I was giving a presentation in an unfamiliar room using an unfamiliar computer. For some reason, my presentation wasn’t working quite right. While it looked more or less the way it should, the system wasn’t responding as … Continue reading →

Posted in Perception & Reality | Tagged filters, perception, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Out of the Ashes

Posted on April 23, 2017 by RealityCheck

When good things happen, when our needs and expectations are being met, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to feel satisfied and happy. However, when bad things happen, we’re given the delightful and very useful gift of an opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged gratitude, improving relationships, learning, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: When you doubt yourself

Posted on April 16, 2017 by RealityCheck

While unjustified confidence can be perceived as arrogance, justifiable confidence is a positive quality. Self-doubt, for any of us, can result in a lack of enjoyment of our lives. An athlete who loses confidence can lose their enjoyment of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing, Thinking, Feeling, Physiology | Tagged anxiety, confidence, total behaviour, worry | Comments Off

Reality Check: When there’s no perfect option

Posted on April 9, 2017 by RealityCheck

Have you ever needed to make a decision, only to find that there isn’t a single perfect option among the possibilities? That’s the usual case, isn’t it? If there were a perfect option, we’d go right ahead and choose that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged basic needs, examining wants, making choices, need satisfaction | Comments Off

Reality Check: Aged and Happy

Posted on April 2, 2017 by RealityCheck

If we are fortunate, we grow old. If we are happy and satisfied as we grow old, we are very fortunate indeed. What contributes to being happy as we grow older? In recent columns, I’ve concentrated on practices suggested by … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing actions, choosing thoughts, happiness, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: Happiness and Self-Responsibility

Posted on March 26, 2017 by RealityCheck

Self-responsibility. In some circles, it’s practically a dirty word. It seems that a cold and frightening picture comes to mind for some folks when they hear that there’s a move afoot to promote self-reliance as a useful skill. It’s as … Continue reading →

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged blame, choosing actions, motivation, offering information, perception | Comments Off