Category Archives: Control and Choice

Reality Check: The Tradeoffs in our Choices

Choice-making can be difficult. When you choose one thing, you close the door on something else. Giving up options can be painful. If one option offered only benefits and another option offered only risks, then the choice hardly qualifies as … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Strategies for Choice

Previously, I discussed a theory popularized by Barry Schwartz in, “The Paradox of Choice” that there are two choice-making approaches. Some people are maximizers; intent on making the absolute best choices they possibly can. Others are satisficers, who stop looking … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Do your choices satisfy you?

We make many choices—some consequential; others trivial. Does your choice-making process satisfy you? Or aggravate you? Or does it depend on the choice? Barry Schwartz needed a pair of jeans. In the big scheme of things, picking out jeans isn’t … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Minute of Kindness

One of the email addresses that I’m responsible for is similar to that of an organization far, far away. So, sometimes I receive email that was intended for someone else. Occasionally, it’s obvious that a message is important to the … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Fear and the Unknown

If you’ve ever had a serious medical issue, then it’s safe to say you have experienced fear. That fear may be about unknowns: How will this turn out? Will I be ok? When I was catching up with Sara some … Continue reading

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Reality Check: What would you choose?

A story told by Dr. Glasser in Choice Theory describes a mother-daughter relationship that had once been good but has now turned sour. Mom works all day. She comes home; her teenage daughter is lazing around watching TV. The kitchen … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Guilt, Conscience, and Manipulation

Many people are guided by conscience when they choose their actions. Conscience can motivate us to reach out and offer support, which can be relationship building and benefit both the giver and the receiver. Support can take many forms: emotional, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Battle for your Beliefs

Attempts to influence and persuade us are everywhere. Advertisements are essentially attempts to influence: Buy this product! Donate to this cause! Believe these beliefs! Personalized ads and information are particularly persuasive. For example, if I can make my company’s ad … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Experiments in Liking

Do you remember when liking referred to having an affectionate feeling toward someone? Now, for many, “liking” means clicking a mouse on a little thumbs-up sign. Either way, liking indicates a positive emotional response. It’s a sign of approval, support, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: To be Deliberate

It’s probably the influence of advertising, but the word “mindfulness” for me conjures up the image of a lovely woman in a yoga pose. Waterfalls, peace, and harmony abound. Being mindful—paying attention to the present moment—is a really helpful practice. … Continue reading

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