Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: The Little Red Hens

Do you visualize how things should be? For example, do you picture how kids should act? What your spouse should do? How friends should behave? Perhaps you have bigger pictures, such as how the county should progress, how the country … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Pigs, Cows, and Perceptions

A guy is driving down the road minding his own business. An oncoming car approaches; the woman driving rolls down the window and yells: “Pig!” Instantly the guy takes offense! How dare she call me a pig! I wasn’t doing … Continue reading

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Reality Check: OPAAT

One Person At A Time: OPAAT. Haven’t seen that acronym before? No surprise; I made it up—with a purpose! It reminds me of what I am able to do. News, opinions, and commentaries often point out systemic problems—big wrongs (or … Continue reading

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Reality Check: A Step in the “Take Charge” Direction

The word “crisis” conveys a sense of urgency and it’s sometimes associated with the mental health system, accompanied by commentary that there aren’t enough resources and things are getting worse. Perhaps that’s true; perhaps it’s not. Allocation of resources will … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Tell Yourself a Story

Are you a storyteller? Do you like to tell a tale to a group? Do you enjoy entertaining your friends with anecdotes or creating stories for your grandkids? If you don’t, you may not think of yourself as a storyteller. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Reluctant Leader

In a workplace, folks sometimes find themselves “promoted” into a position they’d really rather not have, but perceive that they have no choice but to accept. Shelly has been appointed the informal leader of her team. At the time, it … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Relationships and the Power Need

Last time, I suggested that a marriage where both people have a high need for power and low need for love and belonging may present challenges. However, that doesn’t mean that such a couple is doomed to a life of … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Marriage — Who’s in Charge?

If you’re happily married, you may have an easy, good-humoured response to the question of who’s in charge in your marriage. Did you say, “my wife/husband”? If you’re struggling in your marriage, however, you may also have a quick response … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Building a Happier Marriage

Fundamental to choice theory is its emphasis on our basic human need for love and belonging. One way we attempt to satisfy that need is through marriage. The idea of marriage is great. Two people publicly declare their love and … Continue reading

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Reality Check: If Only I Were…

It’s easy to find faults in others if one is inclined to do so. If you choose a mindset that compares others to your own internal standard of “how people should be,” you’ll readily see how they fall short. If … Continue reading

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