Category Archives: Choosing Behaviour

Reality Check: Entertaining Options

Are there actions in your life that you do mindlessly? For example, when you sit down to watch TV, do you choose the program? Or do you sit in front of whatever happens to be on, perhaps complaining (verbally or … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Entertaining Options

Reality Check: The Offer of Information

A choice theory premise is that we can’t control other people; however, we can offer information. Someone who accepts information might learn a new fact, be persuaded to make a decision, or be influenced to act differently. Fundamentally, though, what … Continue reading

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: The Offer of Information

Reality Check: The Gift in the Event

Bad things can happen to anyone. While we can take action to try to prevent some bad things by driving cautiously, choosing friends carefully, eating reasonably, the reality is that many events are completely beyond our control. We do have … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: The Gift in the Event

Reality Check: Strong, Wise, or Stubborn?

Bob’s the kind of guy who always seems to know what to do and is always ready to lend a hand. He’s strong, capable, and independent. Then, Bob had a heart attack. Did that change Bob’s life? Well, the doctors … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Strong, Wise, or Stubborn?

Reality Check: Own It!

Have you heard any white lies lately? Maybe even told one or two of your own? We sometimes tell tiny falsehoods to avoid hurt feelings; fibs intended to be virtuous, not evil. However, just because we have positive intent with … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Own It!

Reality Check: Situational Confidence

Do you believe that having self-confidence is important, satisfying, and helpful? My next question: “Are you a self-confident person?” There are many competent, skilled, accomplished people who lack self-confidence, and they know it’s an unsatisfying state. You might think that … Continue reading

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Situational Confidence

Reality Check: Lessons from First Aid

Whenever I have the good fortune to participate in training, I try to figure out whether the skills I’m learning can be more broadly applied. In first aid, for example, there’s the principle of protecting your own safety. Don’t put … Continue reading

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Lessons from First Aid

Reality Check: Experiments in Encouragement

How do we learn? One effective method involves coming up with an idea and then trying an experiment to see whether the idea works as we think it will. Observe what happens, and then draw a conclusion based on what … Continue reading

Posted in Helping Others | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Experiments in Encouragement

Reality Check: When Evaluation Gets Personal

Last column, I offered suggestions regarding workplace evaluations and ways to prepare so as to gain some control over what can be a stressful situation. The workplace is not the only venue where we are evaluated! What’s happening when your … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: When Evaluation Gets Personal

Reality Check: Wit’s end?

Are you ever at your “wit’s end?” You try everything you can think of to respond to a problem (usually a person-related problem), but nothing works to create the result you want. Interactions with others are sometimes delightful, other times … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Wit’s end?