Tag Archives: choosing actions

Reality Check: Unplanned Events That Change Our Lives

Posted on July 2, 2023 by RealityCheck

In my research on happiness, I came across a soon-to-be-released book titled “The Saad Truth About Happiness.” It’s by Gad Saad, professor of marketing at Concordia University in Montreal. Saad’s happiness suggestions are clear and practical; I’ll write about them … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, examining options, happiness | Comments Off

Reality Check: Having Trouble Getting Started?

Posted on June 18, 2023 by RealityCheck

Wait, delay, and put it off. For some people, procrastination is practically an identity, as in, “I’ve always been a procrastinator and that’s just who I am.” This is fine, until it’s not. Putting off can ultimately result in poor … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged choosing actions, examining wants, making choices, motivation | Comments Off

Reality Check: When We Make A Change

Posted on June 11, 2023 by RealityCheck

The scenario outlined in my recent column on people-pleasing prompted comments from readers who agree—in that situation, it would be helpful if the people-pleaser made some changes. When we’re in a relationship where one person attempts to control the other, … Continue reading →

Posted in Making a Change | Tagged choosing actions, confidence, conflict, examining wants | Comments Off

Reality Check: What a Gift Can Do

Posted on May 7, 2023 by RealityCheck

Gift-giving occasions are so common that they can seem like an obligatory nuisance or, more cynically, a corporate effort to boost consumerism. However, a thoughtful gift can have a genuine impact. Giving a gift can show that you care. Yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged "should", basic needs, choosing actions, examining options | Comments Off

Reality Check: Louder than Thoughts or Feelings

Posted on April 30, 2023 by RealityCheck

“Actions speak louder than words” is an old saying. Do you think it’s true? Many of us do. Words can be empty but actions demonstrate who we really are. Choice Theory offers an extension to that idea by suggesting that … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing, Thinking, Feeling, Physiology | Tagged choosing actions, choosing thoughts, examining options, total behaviour | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Paths We Select Through Our Choices

Posted on April 23, 2023 by RealityCheck

One of the benefits of writing is that people sometimes tell me their stories. I appreciate getting them, especially stories about choices. Recently, a young woman I’ll call Rebecca emailed me. We are acquainted, so the contact wasn’t completely unexpected. … Continue reading →

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged choosing actions, choosing influences, confidence, examining wants, motivation | Comments Off

Reality Check: Negotiating Differences in a Relationship

Posted on February 26, 2023 by RealityCheck

The seventh and final caring habit in Dr. Glasser’s list of caring habits is “always negotiating disagreements,” which I refer to as negotiating differences. It might seem odd to think of negotiations when we’re talking about personal relationships. Negotiating sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged choosing actions, conflict, improving relationships, negotiation | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Habit of Respect

Posted on February 19, 2023 by RealityCheck

If you’ve been following recent columns, you’ll know that I’ve been examining Dr. Glasser’s caring habits for building relationships, one at a time. To recap, those habits are: supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. We’ve now come … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged choosing actions, choosing thoughts, improving relationships, perception | Comments Off

Reality Check: Make Something Good Happen

Posted on January 5, 2023 by RealityCheck

The transition from one year to the next often motivates us to make a change, preferably for the better. Maybe you want to set out on a new adventure or improve a relationship. Holidays often include opportunities to get together. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal Freedom | Tagged choosing actions, dissatisfaction, examining wants, making choices | Comments Off

Reality Check: The Reality of Tradeoffs

Posted on December 18, 2022 by RealityCheck

Choices often require tradeoffs—we give up one thing to have another. We do this so frequently that we’re often not aware of it. For example, if you’ve driven around today, then you made a tradeoff. You traded off the safety … Continue reading →

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