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Welcome to Reality Check:
articles and observations inspired by the work of Dr. William GlasserCategories
Category Archives: Relationships
Reality Check: Their Good News
How do you respond when someone tells you their good news? In his book Flourish, Martin Seligman describes four ways of responding, and suggests that only one of those ways is helpful for relationship building. Let’s look at an example. … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged criticism, happiness, improving relationships
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Reality Check: Boundaries and Disputes
Boundaries can create cause for dispute. Sometimes, however, setting a boundary can be an effective way to diffuse a dispute. Emma has endured criticism from her mother all her life. In her youthful rush to get married and away from … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged confidence, improving relationships, internal & external control
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Reality Check: Lots on your Plate?
Busy, busy, busy. Ask most anyone how they are doing and you’ll often hear, “I’m so busy!” What are some potential consequences of that busy-ness? Harriet cares for a very sick child, looks after an elderly aunt, and has a … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged guilt, improving relationships, perception
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Reality Check: A “Map” of Relationships
Responses to the column that asked, “Are you in the people business?” have encouraged me to take this “people business” a little further. If (or when) you realize that you are in the “people business,” then you might find it … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged improving relationships, self-evaluation
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Reality Check: The People Business
Are you in the “people business”? Almost certainly, the answer is… yes! In their book, Have a Nice Conflict, Scudder, Patterson, and Mitchell assert that everyone is in the people business. There’s nary a line of work where people aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged conflict, improving relationships, need satisfaction, perception
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Reality Check: Fume or Fun?
Some situations seem to call for obvious reactions. However, even when we think there’s only one logical response, there are often many options available for our choosing. How can we figure out which choice is most effective? Doris’s husband, Bob, … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged choosing actions, conflict, improving relationships
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Reality Check: The Other Toxin
If you pay attention to health-related matters, then you’ve heard of toxins. Whether in air, food, or water, toxins are often suspected of causing disease. There’s another toxin that can have a significant impact on one’s life: the toxic relationship! … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged examining wants, freedom, improving relationships
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Reality Check: Apologies, Demands, and Power
An apology is often an effective response when someone has been wronged. Yet, there are also unsatisfying apology scenarios where someone—the victim, the offender, or both—walk away feeling, well…unsatisfied. You know something is still not OK, even if you can’t … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged "should", conflict, need satisfaction
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Reality Check: Perspectives on Apologies
Have you ever said or done something thoughtless that ended up hurting somebody you care deeply about? If so, join the club! Whether it was a massive error or a minor blunder, we’re human and are known to make mistakes. … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged blame, choosing actions, improving relationships
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