Category Archives: Choosing Perspective

Reality Check: Different wants for different folks

Posted on September 14, 2019 by RealityCheck

“I don’t know why you think you need all that stuff.” From his mom’s perspective, James is continuously on kijiji, eBay and buy & sell groups, looking for a deal. He’s accumulated tools, parts, gadgets of all sorts. “Why?” she … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Our “What We Want” World

Posted on September 14, 2019 by RealityCheck

Dr. Wm. Glasser’s book, “Take Charge of Your Life” includes a chapter entitled “The Pictures in our Heads.” Does the concept of pictures in your head make sense to you? Do you have pictures in your head? Are they vivid … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged examining wants, improving relationships, internal & external control, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Joy:Cost Ratio

Posted on August 11, 2019 by RealityCheck

There’s a little guy who occasionally passes by my office door. Whenever he does, he exclaims, “I’ve got my thinking cat on!” It’s adorable. No matter how busy or stressed or distracted I am, I get pure joy for those … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged fun, happiness, perception, priorities | Comments Off

Reality Check: What does your mind rest upon?

Posted on July 27, 2019 by RealityCheck

Dr. Rick Hanson writes a regular email newsletter called Just One Thing, subtitled, “Simple practices for resilient happiness.” In a recent publication, he said, “There is a traditional saying that the mind takes its shape from what it rests upon.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing influences, choosing thoughts, helpful, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Challenge of Forgetfulness

Posted on June 23, 2019 by RealityCheck

Do you believe that you are forgetful? If so, do you find that troubling? Recently, I explored some research around learning and what we might do to help people retain what they’ve learned. I had looked at this research before, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged anxiety, frustration, learning | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Joy of Ownership

Posted on May 12, 2019 by RealityCheck

The other day, while I was picking up trash by the roadside, I pondered the things that one tends to ponder while picking up trash by the roadside. For example, I pondered, “Why would anyone throw their trash on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged confidence, happiness, helpful, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: What you see is…what you look for?

Posted on April 21, 2019 by RealityCheck

Last post, my focus was, “What you see is what you get.” This time, I’m looking at the connection between what we look for and what we see. You’ve almost certainly experienced this connection. For example, if you walk a … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged choosing thoughts, gratitude, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: Caution! Mindreading While Listening

Posted on March 10, 2019 by RealityCheck

When doing an important task, it works best if you concentrate fully on that one task while you are doing it. For example, you and I both know better than to text while driving. Driving is an important task, and … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Critic

Posted on March 3, 2019 by RealityCheck

Do you detect that there’s a lot of criticism in your life? If so, how does it feel to be criticized? Are you grateful to have the errors of your ways pointed out to you? Or not so much? When … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Choosing to Find Joy in the Process

Posted on February 24, 2019 by RealityCheck

For a little over a year, I’ve had an orchid sitting on my table. It’s a tiny plant in a tiny purple pot. When it was given to me, it was in full bloom. The blooms lasted for what seemed … Continue reading →

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