Author Archives: RealityCheck

Reality Check: From Self-Evaluation to Change

Self-evaluation, in the choice theory perspective, is that important step when we look at what we do and make a judgment about it. The word “judgment” often carries a negative connotation; however, judgment is helpful when you use it to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: “Keys” to Self-Evaluation

Elise has the unfortunate habit of misplacing her keys. Over the years, she has been late for important meetings, she’s held up family outings, and she’s wasted countless hours searching. Her key-losing behaviour even contributed to missing a chance for … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Hard Work of Positive Thinking

When discouragement hits, it can be hard to imagine that you have any choice at all about how you feel. The total behaviour aspect of choice theory states that taking action of some sort is the most direct approach to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Resilient Children; Resilient Adults

When things are going well in our lives, it’s easy to feel satisfied, to view ourselves as being effective, and to build good relationships with people. However, at some point, every one of us will experience a setback, a disappointment, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Who’s holding the pen?

How much of our troubles (or our happiness) do you believe we are responsible for causing ourselves? All? None? Some? My Reality Therapy colleague, Becky Wentzell, uses the metaphor of looking at your life as a story to help folks … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Taking Active Control

Gregory has been waiting for years for an appointment with a medical specialist. We know that it can feel like years when we’re waiting, but Gregory says that literally years have gone by without even an initial appointment. That’s not … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Fairest of Them All

No, this column isn’t about Snow White; it’s about fairness. Of course, Snow White’s beauty did offer her an unfair advantage over the wicked queen. And, the wicked queen had the unfair advantage of power. Fairness is complicated, isn’t it? … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Can’t, Won’t, Don’t? or Can, Will, Do?

I can’t, I won’t, I don’t want! There’s always something that we can’t do, won’t do, or don’t want. And, there are things that we can do, will do, and do want. Which is most helpful to focus on? Elyssa … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Recognizing the Freedom to Choose

Once upon a time, Emma and William had a great relationship. Then, Emma decided she wanted to marry William, but William was reluctant to comply. Does the need for  freedom have an impact here? Emma doesn’t think she’s seeking freedom; … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Choice and Personal Freedom

The theory underlying Reality Therapy is outlined in the book, “Choice Theory,” with the subtitle, “A new psychology of personal freedom.”  What does choice theory have to do with personal freedom? Dr. Glasser refers to the need for freedom as … Continue reading

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