Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: Experiments in Encouragement

Posted on March 30, 2014 by RealityCheck

How do we learn? One effective method involves coming up with an idea and then trying an experiment to see whether the idea works as we think it will. Observe what happens, and then draw a conclusion based on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged criticism, learning, offering information | Comments Off

Reality Check: A Filter For Your Thoughts

Posted on March 23, 2014 by RealityCheck

Reality. You would think we’d all agree on what it is, wouldn’t you? Yet, two people can be exposed to the same situation or read exactly the same words and come away with quite different perceptions. How does that happen? … Continue reading →

Posted in Perception & Reality | Tagged choosing thoughts, offering information, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: When Evaluation Gets Personal

Posted on March 16, 2014 by RealityCheck

Last column, I offered suggestions regarding workplace evaluations and ways to prepare so as to gain some control over what can be a stressful situation. The workplace is not the only venue where we are evaluated! What’s happening when your … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged criticism, offering information, perception, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Evaluation time

Posted on March 9, 2014 by RealityCheck

At some point in our lives, most of us are evaluated. Evaluation may be a rare, stress-filled event or a routine, near-constant process. Evaluation occurs at school, when a teacher assigns a grade. As adults, we are often evaluated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Workplace | Tagged anxiety, criticism, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Wit’s end?

Posted on March 2, 2014 by RealityCheck

Are you ever at your “wit’s end?” You try everything you can think of to respond to a problem (usually a person-related problem), but nothing works to create the result you want. Interactions with others are sometimes delightful, other times … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged examining options, improving relationships | Comments Off

Reality Check: I Regret that I Cannot…

Posted on February 23, 2014 by RealityCheck

Last post, I suggested that one way to reduce stress is to create habits for on-going chores. Assigning a specific time to mundane activities can reduce the perception of never being caught up. Chores don’t take over your life! How … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged "should", examining options, guilt | Comments Off

Reality Check: Creating the Helpful Habit

Posted on February 16, 2014 by RealityCheck

Are you stressed? Is there too much to do, no time to do it? Do undone tasks scurry around in the back of your mind, popping up at inconvenient times? Many tasks are never fully done. Do you remember this … Continue reading →

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged choosing actions, examining options, guilt, worry | Comments Off

Reality Check: Manufacturing Outrage

Posted on February 9, 2014 by RealityCheck

We could choose to deliberately shield ourselves from the world. However, most of us don’t. Thus, we are exposed to news items, study results, and opinions that you’d almost suspect were designed to provoke outrage in any “reasonable person.” One … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Freedom | Tagged "should", dissatisfaction, fairness | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Value of Taking the High Road

Posted on January 26, 2014 by RealityCheck

In this continuing series on helpful values that seldom make the news, this column’s value is “taking the high road.” Does that get the tune for The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond running through your mind? You might express this … Continue reading →

Posted in Perception & Reality | Tagged choosing thoughts, conflict, criticism, offering information | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Value of Reducing Waste

Posted on January 20, 2014 by RealityCheck

Last column, I suggested that being aware of your values can help you make choices that lead you toward the life that you want. We looked at the value of persistence; now let’s look at the value of “reducing waste.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, examining wants, self-evaluation | Comments Off