Category Archives: Choosing Behaviour

Reality Check: To Choose or Not to Choose?

Posted on April 26, 2015 by RealityCheck

In recent public service ads, a teenager says something like, “My parents didn’t tell me that driving while high was a bad idea, so it must be ok.” One logical response is, “If your parents didn’t tell you it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged "should", guilt, making choices, offering information | Comments Off

Reality Check: When Positive Thinking Meets External Control

Posted on March 1, 2015 by RealityCheck

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 | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Value of Compassion

Posted on February 8, 2015 by RealityCheck

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 | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Value of Delayed Gratification

Posted on January 25, 2015 by RealityCheck

Would you stop drinking all sugary drinks for a year for $500? That’s the offer that one family made to their children. You could view that as bribery. Or, you could view it as an innovative teaching method. Regardless, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, examining wants, need satisfaction | Comments Off

Reality Check: “Should” versus “Could”

Posted on January 11, 2015 by RealityCheck

One little word sometimes makes a world of difference, doesn’t it? Some are obvious contrasts: “I love you” versus “I hate you;” or “I don’t care” versus “I do care.” However, other small changes are not so obvious, yet have … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged "should", criticism, guilt, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Recalculating

Posted on December 21, 2014 by RealityCheck

Year end is a fine time to think about the big questions of life, such as: Where do I want to go? How will I get there? If you’re familiar with a certain brand of GPS (I call mine Martha) … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, examining wants, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Comfort, Joy, and Food

Posted on December 14, 2014 by RealityCheck

There’s a reason why some foods are called “comfort food.” Like fuzzy socks or fleecy blankets, some foods evoke feelings of being safe, cared for, and satisfied. Whether your comfort food of choice is homemade bread, stew, or chicken pot … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, guilt, need satisfaction | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Gift of the Long View

Posted on December 7, 2014 by RealityCheck

When her credit card bill arrived last January, Jessica came face-to-face with the reality of the shopping she’d done over the previous months. She had no idea that she had spent so much! Yet when she checked the charges, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged examining wants, making choices, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Reaction Rut

Posted on November 23, 2014 by RealityCheck

If you’ve ever stubbed your toe, then you’re familiar with quick physical reactions. “Ouch!” (or other words) are almost instant responses to pain; no thought required. Physical pain isn’t the only type of pain though, is it? In choice theory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing thoughts, perception, self-evaluation | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Satisfaction of Small Steps

Posted on November 9, 2014 by RealityCheck

Ups and downs are a part of life. When life goes well, activities tend to fall in to place; you know what you need and want to do. It’s during those down times that it can be difficult to figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, confidence, discouragement | Comments Off