Category Archives: Choosing Perspective

Reality Check: What’s your outlook for today?

How are you doing today? We ask and answer that question so many times in our lives—at home, at work, with friends, in casual conversations. Often it’s a throwaway question; just a way of saying something to be polite. However, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Past and Future Worries

“One trip through the misery is more than enough for most people.” That’s a quote from Dr. Wm. Glasser where he discusses the value—or lack of value—of dwelling on past miseries. The past is over. We can’t change what we … Continue reading

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Reality Check: More Alike Than Different

In his bestseller, “All Things Being Equal,” author John Mighton proposes that widespread math competence could be the key to a better, more just world. What’s your reaction to that? I’m guessing that it might be anywhere from, “Yes, obviously!” … Continue reading

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Reality Check: A Spirit of Hope

“Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve.” If you are a poetry fan, then you may know this poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge entitled, “Work without Hope.” Work is more satisfying when it comes with the hope that you … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Pep Talk

Could you use a pep talk? When you look around, does it seem that everyone is in festive spirits but you? Whether you are having life-changing struggles or just feeling vaguely uneasy, you may have days when it’s hard to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Grumbling and Gratitudes

Has anyone done you wrong at any point in your life? I suspect that it’s a rare person who could answer, “No.” For most, at some point, someone did not treat us well. Have you also noticed that many grievances … Continue reading

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Reality Check: When We Share Stories

Our culture includes so many forms of story-sharing. There are documentaries, movies, books, TED talks, and so on. We share stories of difficulties, actions, triumphs and disasters, both truth and fiction. Do you share stories of your life? Do you … Continue reading

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Reality Check: To-Dos and Purpose

How’s your to-do list? Does it motivate you by giving you purpose and direction? Or is it more like a collection of chores—a hamster wheel that demands lots of effort to keep going round and round but doesn’t seem to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: You and Me Against the Problem

Just when everything seemed to be going well, Amy got a wakeup call. It was a “heart incident,” and it demanded that she turn her attention toward aspects of her life that she had neglected. You probably know the drill. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: When you tell yourself a story

“Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.” If you’re a Canadian folk song aficionado of a certain age, you may be humming that Stan Rogers song right now. The Mary Ellen Carter isn’t just a catchy tune; it tells a … Continue reading

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