Category Archives: Choosing Behaviour

Reality Check: The Rather Card

Even when you know that what you’re doing isn’t working well for you, it can still be hard to make a change. How about a helpful tip? Here’s one: the “Rather Card.” How does it work? As it was originally … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: The Rather Card

Reality Check: Attachment to Things

Did you resolve to get more organized this year? You’re not alone. You can take control of your space, and the sales flyers that feature plastic totes and pretty boxes imply that they can help. But whether it’s elegant bamboo … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Attachment to Things

Reality Check: A Chosen New Year

You’re only one person, but I know that you play many roles. You may be a mother or a father. You may be a partner in a relationship. Each of us is, or has been, someone’s child. You may identify … Continue reading

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: A Chosen New Year

Reality Check: Should, Could, Would Like to

Dinah feels exhausted every morning, even before her day gets started. Why? She has an impossibly huge list of tasks, all conveniently stored in a jumble in her head. She thinks, “I should call that customer,” “I should pick up … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Should, Could, Would Like to

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 , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Your Power Source

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

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: The Abuse of Courtesy

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

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Bad News Bearers

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 , , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Happiness and Self-Responsibility

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

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: All Work and All Play

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

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Practice Makes Better