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Welcome to Reality Check:
articles and observations inspired by the work of Dr. William GlasserCategories
Category Archives: Control and Choice
Reality Check: Unintended Effects
When we interact with people, we have control over how we behave. We can choose our actions, our thoughts, perceptions, and to some degree, even our feelings. What we can’t control is what others do. Smiling at a stranger doesn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged examining wants, perception, power, work
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Reality Check: There will always be an Irma
Are there people in your life who bug you? Treat you badly? Is this the story of your life? Sweet little Mary was picked on throughout her first year of school. Her nemesis was Irma, a big girl in a … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged conflict, internal & external control, making choices, unhappiness
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Reality Check: Sidestep your Traps
Why do I keep doing that? I should know better by now! That’s the way Sophie beats herself up after conversations with her mother. Why, indeed? The relationship with her mom was never great. Sophie is warm and outgoing, whereas … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged conflict, criticism, freedom, perception, power
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Reality Check: Knowing who your friends are
How do you know who your friends are? If you’re a well-seasoned adult, your response may be quite different from that of someone younger. Experience does bring wisdom. If you pay attention to it, that is. I know that I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged choosing influences, confidence, improving relationships, power
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Reality Check: Is It Just Too Much?
Self-evaluation is the process of examining what we are doing and determining whether we’re moving in the direction we want. It can be helpful in many situations. Take Bruce, who works long and hard at work and in life. He’s … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged "should", choosing actions, responsibility, self-evaluation
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Reality Check: When there’s no perfect option
Have you ever needed to make a decision, only to find that there isn’t a single perfect option among the possibilities? That’s the usual case, isn’t it? If there were a perfect option, we’d go right ahead and choose that. … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged basic needs, examining wants, making choices, need satisfaction
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Reality Check: The Happiness of Eliminating Options
Keeping our options open is often perceived as positive. “What are you doing for vacation?” “I’m keeping my options open.” Or, “Have you decided who you will marry?” “No, I’m keeping my options open.” There’s a delightful sense of freedom … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged anxiety, freedom, making choices, perception
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Reality Check: The Time Trap
There exists a near-universal excuse to get out of most any activity. It goes like this: “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t have enough time to do that.” Have you ever used this excuse? I have. So many people feel time-stressed … Continue reading
Posted in Control and Choice
Tagged examining wants, guilt, improving relationships, self-evaluation
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