Tag Archives: blame

Reality Check: The Urge to Justify

Most of us have been on the receiving end of criticism at some point. If that’s you, then you may also be familiar with the urge to respond by justifying your actions. Criticism sometimes comes from the people closest to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Workplace Feud

Do you remember the old western movies that featured families fighting each other for generations? The original dispute is long forgotten, but the hatred continues. Feuds aren’t confined to families, and one place where they are particularly unhelpful is in … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Both Sides True

When we have a disagreement, whether with an individual or a whole group of people, it’s common to think uncharitable thoughts about those on the other side. After all, it goes without saying that we are correct on the issue. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Caution! Mindreading While Listening

When doing an important task, it works best if you concentrate fully on that one task while you are doing it. For example, you and I both know better than to text while driving. Driving is an important task, and … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Benefit of the Doubt

We never really know what’s going on inside someone else’s head, do we? Even among the people closest to us—our friends and family—we can have misunderstandings. For example, your friend says something you perceive to be offensive; later you realize … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Gratitude, Expectation, and Entitlement

“A whole dollar and seventy-six cents! What an insult! I should tell them to take their money and let them know right where to put it, too!” Whether you work for an hourly wage or a salary, receive a pension … Continue reading

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Reality Check: If your past was a yard sale…

Even if you don’t love yard sales or flea markets, you probably know someone who does. While frugality is some of the incentive, for the passionate yard-salers, much of the joy comes from the hunt. The thrill of the hunt … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Happiness and Self-Responsibility

Self-responsibility. In some circles, it’s practically a dirty word. It seems that a cold and frightening picture comes to mind for some folks when they hear that there’s a move afoot to promote self-reliance as a useful skill. It’s as … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Do you want to keep the hurt alive?

Have you ever been hurt? Probably so. I think that it’s the rare person who makes it through life without feeling that someone has done them wrong at some point. This series of columns is intended to provide suggestions to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Bears, Breakdowns & Choice Theory

The anecdotes and characters in my columns are usually composite characters and fictionalized situations. However, occasionally, I do write about an actual situation or person (after asking permission, of course.) Such is the case for this column, where the behaviour … Continue reading

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