Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: The Value of Reducing Waste

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 →

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Reality Check: New Year’s Values

It’s the traditional season to make promises to ourselves: how we’ll change our lives, what we will achieve, what disciplines we will force on ourselves… While each day is as valuable as another, taking stock of life at New Year’s … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Fume or Fun?

Some situations seem to call for obvious reactions. However, even when we think there’s only one logical response, there are often many options available for our choosing. How can we figure out which choice is most effective? Doris’s husband, Bob, … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Stewing on a Setback

If the word “stew” only brings to mind that tasty dish from a crockpot, you’re fortunate! For many, stewing means worrying, and it’s often over something completely out of one’s control.  Everybody has setbacks, and it can be mighty difficult … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Esteem Essentials

Can you raise someone’s self-esteem? Perhaps more to the point, can you (or anyone) lower someone’s self-esteem? The choice theory view is that we can’t make anyone (other than ourselves) happy, sad, angry, or anything else; each of us does … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Happiness Choice

The William Glasser organization just launched a website called Mental Health & Happiness at www.mentalhealthandhappiness.com Associating mental health with happiness may not make sense if your picture of happiness is giddy laughter, personal indulgence, or fantastic luck. If so, you … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Young People Today…

How would you finish the phrase, “Young people today…”? A frequent theme is, “Young people today don’t want to work,” or “Young people today can’t handle money,” or “Young people today expect to be taken care of.” That criticism often … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Other Toxin

If you pay attention to health-related matters, then you’ve heard of toxins. Whether in air, food, or water, toxins are often suspected of causing disease. There’s another toxin that can have a significant impact on one’s life: the toxic relationship! … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Great Expectations

Hannah perceives that she is criticized. When family or friends get together, she comes away feeling like an underachiever. Her brother’s children excel, her sister makes more money, and her friends’ lives are more exciting. Although no one is critical … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Turn Around

Relationships have differences. If those differences aren’t handled well, they can lead to unfortunate consequences: marriage breakup, financial hardship, traumatized children. Differences at work can lead to people quitting or being fired, to stress, anxiety, lost productivity, and lost opportunities. … Continue reading →

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