Category Archives: Perception & Reality

Reality Check: Here’s to a Satisfying Holiday

Posted on November 30, 2014 by RealityCheck

For some folks, the prospect of holidays and the expectations that come with them can evoke feelings that are closer to dread than joy. And if our perception is that others effortlessly produce perfect food, gifts, and parties while surrounded … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: What does respect look like?

Posted on August 24, 2014 by RealityCheck

Communication is interesting. We come up with ideas—essentially pictures in our minds—that we want to communicate. Then we use words to share those ideas. We tend to assume that everybody understands words the same way. Take the word “respect.” My … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: When Something Stinks

Posted on April 27, 2014 by RealityCheck

With delicate precision, the grandkids smeared stinky cheese into Grandpa’s moustache while he snoozed. Grandpa awakes, it stinks! No matter where he goes, everything stinks. The whole world stinks! It can be surprisingly hard to tell whether it’s the whole … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: What Three Words?

Posted on April 13, 2014 by RealityCheck

“Why so glum, Jim?” “I just got a compliment. At least, I guess that’s what it was. I did a favour for Mary, and she told me how grateful she is to have me around, that I’m always so loyal … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: A Filter For Your Thoughts

Posted on March 23, 2014 by RealityCheck

Reality. You would think we’d all agree on what it is, wouldn’t you? Yet, two people can be exposed to the same situation or read exactly the same words and come away with quite different perceptions. How does that happen? … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Value of Taking the High Road

Posted on January 26, 2014 by RealityCheck

In this continuing series on helpful values that seldom make the news, this column’s value is “taking the high road.” Does that get the tune for The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond running through your mind? You might express this … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Esteem Essentials

Posted on December 8, 2013 by RealityCheck

Can you raise someone’s self-esteem? Perhaps more to the point, can you (or anyone) lower someone’s self-esteem? The choice theory view is that we can’t make anyone (other than ourselves) happy, sad, angry, or anything else; each of us does … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: A Tale of Two Dates

Posted on June 9, 2013 by RealityCheck

This column isn’t about dried fruit, nor am I attempting to take over from Ann Landers! I’ve chosen the topic of dates because young (and not-so-young) folks can find it difficult to recognize the true nature of a potential partner. … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Windfall, Blessing or Burden?

Posted on October 28, 2012 by RealityCheck

Sophia has always wanted to be wealthy. Acquaintances might think that she had a comfortable life, but in Sophia’s mind, money was a constant challenge. She was certain that her life and her outlook would be completely different, if only … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Does thinking make it so?

Posted on August 26, 2012 by RealityCheck

“.. for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” Shakespeare’s famous line elegantly expresses that different people perceive things in different ways. In this case, Hamlet expressed that he perceived Denmark as a prison; others … Continue reading →

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