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articles and observations inspired by the work of Dr. William GlasserCategories
Category Archives: Helping Others
Reality Check: Influencers, Helpers, and Heroes
We may never know the effect of extending a small kindness. In fact, we could perform a genuinely heroic act and never learn the result. We may not even know whether anyone noticed. Being helpful and kind is more satisfying … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged choosing actions, confidence, encouragement, gratitude
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Reality Check: We can do it!
What does encouragement look like? Think way back and picture the poster of Rosie the Riveter. That’s one picture of encouragement—Rosie’s determined face under the slogan, “We can do it!” with her sleeves rolled up and her muscles flexed. The … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged choosing actions, discouragement, encouragement, offering information
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Reality Check: Your Power Source
A young woman I’ll call Yvette signed up for math class. The first day, Yvette informed me that she can’t do a specific, very basic type of problem. Over the years, others have tried to teach her but she just … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged choosing thoughts, learning, motivation, power
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Reality Check: Happiness and Self-Responsibility
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
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Reality Check: Routes to Self-Esteem
Is self-esteem a double-edged sword? Too little self-esteem? You can find yourself living an unsatisfying life with little confidence. You may treat yourself as if you have low value or worth. Others may take your behaviour as a cue, and … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged confidence, offering information, perception, work
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Reality Check: The Value of Support
Last post, I told a little story about Sally and her intent to invite a roommate to share her living space. Based on your knowledge of the situation, you anticipated that this arrangement wouldn’t work well. In other words, you … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged "should", improving relationships, offering information
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Reality Check: If I Know What’s Right for You…
Do you know what’s right for someone else? It’s easy to think that we know exactly what someone should do, think, or feel. And then, it’s easy to tell them! Dr. William Glasser associates the “I-know-what’s-right-for-you” perspective with misery. In … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged "should", improving relationships, offering information
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Reality Check: Smart Praise
I have previously suggested that supportive behaviours, such as encouraging and offering recognition, are helpful for building strong relationships. How about praise? Is it an effective way to recognize and encourage? When little Joey started elementary school, he’d already had … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged learning, offering information
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Reality Check: When Positive Thinking Meets External Control
Last post, I suggested that positive thinking can be helpful, but with a caveat—to be effective, it needs to be paired with positive action. So, if positive thinking is good, then shouldn’t everybody get on board? You know, “Turn that … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged "should", choosing thoughts, offering information
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Reality Check: The Value of Compassion
What does it mean to be compassionate? What differentiates a compassionate person from others? Elsie values compassion; in her mind, it is simply the right way to be. She easily finds ways to treat strangers compassionately by giving of her … Continue reading
Posted in Helping Others
Tagged basic needs, making choices, offering information
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