Category Archives: Choosing Behaviour

Reality Check: A Model of Motivation

I have some ambivalence about the positive thinking business. It is a business, after all, with books, articles, and motivational speakers. Much of our culture encourages positive thinking, and you’ve even seen suggestions here in this column. Positive thinking complements … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Do, Run, Run…

Last time, I looked at what can happen when a dreamer avoids doing. Taken to the extreme, the dreamer who is stuck on dreaming may never take the action necessary to turn their dream into reality. How about the other … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Doers and Dreamers

The “Doers and Dreamers’ Travel Guide” is designed to promote tourism. Are you a doer looking for activities? Or a dreamer looking for romantic beach sunsets? No matter which; you can fulfill your wishes here! Wherever there are people, there … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Impulse to Vent

Have you ever felt that frustration has control of you? That you can’t hold back; you have to let it out somehow? If so, how well has that “letting out” worked for you? Venting can feel really good at the … Continue reading

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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

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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

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Reality Check: The Voter’s Choice

Election season continues. Far from being happy about having a say in how our country is governed, some folks are responding with frustration, confusion, and “Why bother voting? Here are the main objections I’ve been hearing: 1. Politicians are all … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Time to Double Down?

Not so long ago, in a place not so far away, a government with the very best intentions wanted to encourage kids to eat in a healthy way. A commendable goal. The question: how might one do this? A program … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Habit-Forming

It’s commonly said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. It’s tempting to believe that if you rigidly adhere to a new behaviour for a set number of days, then it magically becomes engrained in you. You … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Worry-Weed Patch

Even if you’ve never gardened, you’ve probably noticed that a patch of bare ground doesn’t stay bare for long. Nature doesn’t like empty space. What fills that space? Weeds, of course. Lambs-quarters take up residence in the garden; plantain plants … Continue reading

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