Category Archives: Control and Choice

Reality Check: When Someone Wants to Pick a Fight

Posted on September 18, 2022 by RealityCheck

Do you know someone who wants to pick a fight? Perhaps there’s somebody in your family or at work who wants to argue. Some people enjoy a fight. But the fact that someone wants to fight with you doesn’t mean … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: When the Choice Isn’t Clear

Posted on August 14, 2022 by RealityCheck

How do you make decisions? We’re influenced by experience, preferences, perhaps trustworthy advice. And there are emotions, too. When we’re feeling fearful, angry or resentful, we likely won’t make the same decisions as when we are brimming with confidence, love, … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The State of Stuck

Posted on June 27, 2022 by RealityCheck

When you’re thinking about places you’d like to visit, I suspect that the State of Stuck isn’t on your list. For one thing, it’s not even a place; it’s a state of mind. What I’m calling the State of Stuck … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged choosing actions, choosing influences, choosing thoughts, discouragement, motivation | Comments Off

Reality Check: When Times Are Tough

Posted on April 18, 2022 by RealityCheck

At some point, I suspect that everyone faces a tough time. Your tough time could look quite different from my tough time. However, all of our tough times may have more in common than we’d think. When something interferes with … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged anxiety, choosing actions, encouragement, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: A New Year; A New System

Posted on January 17, 2022 by RealityCheck

It’s understandable that New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. The inevitable February stories of people who’ve abandoned their resolutions sends a message of, “Why bother?” Regardless of the time of year, however, it’s worthwhile to think about what you … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Can We Choose Our Response?

Posted on October 24, 2021 by RealityCheck

Travelling can be difficult at the best of times. As these times aren’t exactly the best of times, opportunities for difficulties are even higher now. Here’s a travel story; it’s about choices. For months, a friend we’ll call Emma has … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged anxiety, choosing thoughts, conflict, internal & external control, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Bare Essentials

Posted on August 1, 2021 by RealityCheck

What is essential for you? Think for a moment. What pops up? Perhaps people come to your mind—friends, family, people we rely on for help and companionship, who keep our spirits up and make our lives worth living. What else … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged "should", basic needs, conflict, examining wants, freedom, making choices, priorities, responsibility | Comments Off

Reality Check: Getting in the Mood

Posted on July 18, 2021 by RealityCheck

Are we prisoners of our moods? Some days we feel great from the moment we wake up; others not so much. Why? We could blame the weather. Maybe it’s that incomprehensible jumble of hormones inside our bodies. Or it could … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: What’s in a Bribe?

Posted on December 13, 2020 by RealityCheck

When you think of bribery (if you ever do) what comes to mind? Scenes of brown paper bags stuffed with cash, surreptitiously dropped into the hands of corrupt, powerful people? In his book, “Take Charge of Your Life,” Dr. Glasser … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Perfection Trap

Posted on November 15, 2020 by RealityCheck

How do you feel about this statement: “If I can’t do something perfectly, I may as well not do it at all”? While different people have different attitudes toward perfection, there are some situations where perfect accomplishment is what we … Continue reading →

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