Category Archives: Choosing Behaviour

Reality Check: The Abuse of Courtesy

If you have a telephone, at some point you’ve probably gotten a call that goes something like this: The phone rings. You answer. There’s a long buzzy pause as a piece of equipment somewhere figures out that they have a … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Bad News Bearers

“I know you don’t want to hear this but I have to tell you anyway.” Do you ever say (or think) that? You believe that you need to inform somebody of something unpleasant, and they’re not going to like it. … Continue reading

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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

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Reality Check: All Work and All Play

Think back to when you’ve had a really satisfying day. Perhaps it was yesterday! Or maybe you have to search your memory and go back years. No matter. Just think of a good, satisfying day that you’ve actually experienced—not one … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Practice Makes Better

We get good at what we practice. Even if we never completely master a skill, the more we practice, the more we improve. Conversely, if we don’t practice, we won’t improve and may even lose what skill we had. In … Continue reading

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Reality Check: To Rely and to Be Reliable

There’s a particular satisfaction for me when someone I know has made progress in their life. It’s especially gratifying if I can perceive that I had contributed to that progress, even in a tiny way. Often, the achievements are relatively … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Proactive Happiness

In this series of columns on happiness, my goal is to help answer the question, “What can we do to be happier?” One excellent resource is “Mastering Happiness,” where Dr. Joel Wade discusses ten specific practices. If you adopt them, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Aesop’s Snake

Do you believe there’s good in everyone? That even the most awful person is good at their core? Values and beliefs form part of what Dr. Wm. Glasser refers to as our “Quality World.” Our beliefs influence our perceptions, decisions … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Demonstrations of Love

Dr. Wm. Glasser says that all humans need love and belonging. Some people need a lot; others not so much, but everybody has this genetic need. We have other genetic needs too, but for now, we’ll just look at love. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Another Route to Self-Esteem

Last posting, I recounted Brady’s story. Brady’s high self-esteem as a youngster came crashing down in adulthood when he encountered a boss who didn’t interpret awesomeness as just showing up. The profuse praise Brady was accustomed to receiving for minimal … Continue reading

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