Tag Archives: conflict

Reality Check: Honk, Honk!

Did you hear the story about the driverless cars that got into an argument in a parking lot and kept honking at each other? Funny story! Funny, that is, unless you live in the neighbourhood and don’t enjoy a 4AM … Continue reading

Posted in Control and Choice | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Honk, Honk!

Reality Check: Expectations and the Pictures We Carry

Whenever two or more people get together and talk, we have an opportunity to share joy, to create understanding, and to deepen relationships. Getting together can be such fun! Getting together also creates an opportunity for conflict, and there’s plenty … Continue reading

Posted in Develop Understanding | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Expectations and the Pictures We Carry

Reality Check: When We Don’t See Eye to Eye

A snippet of overheard conversation reminded me of a common source of relationship conflicts. It’s the idea that the people close to you should share your opinions. In this case, a young woman we’ll call Liz was venting her frustration … Continue reading

Posted in Relationships | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: When We Don’t See Eye to Eye

Reality Check: When “Don’t” Works

“Don’t” sounds like such a negative word, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s because it’s often used in commands, like “Don’t do that!” or “Don’t call me; I’ll call you.” It’s a word that shows up a lot when we try to … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Perspective | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: When “Don’t” Works

Reality Check: How Do You Know You’ve Understood?

Do you ever feel misunderstood? I’ll hazard a guess that the answer is “yes.” If that’s true, then it’s also likely that other people feel misunderstood, too. Why? One answer is that some communication methods are more effective than others. … Continue reading

Posted in Develop Understanding | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: How Do You Know You’ve Understood?

Reality Check: Helpful and Unhelpful Conversations

People talk. We often take it for granted, but the fact that we are able to communicate really is one of the delights of being human. It enables us to learn, create, innovate, and express emotion. Our communication is not … Continue reading

Posted in Relationships | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Helpful and Unhelpful Conversations

Reality Check: Instead of Head-Banging…

You may have heard that “customer service ain’t what it used to be.” This may be true. While I’m not convinced that poor service is universal, I’ve certainly heard anecdotes that indicate appalling lack of care. It’s enough to make … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: Instead of Head-Banging…

Reality Check: I Wonder…

Are you dealing with a challenging problem now? Do you see one coming up in the future? Or maybe you’ve recently resolved a problem. Problems are pretty common, so it’s not unusual to be in one of those boats at … Continue reading

Posted in Choosing Behaviour | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: I Wonder…

Reality Check: When We Make A Change

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 , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: When We Make A Change

Reality Check: When We Lose Power

Dr. Wm. Glasser included power in his list of five basic human needs. As the word “power” can be interpreted in different ways, first let’s consider what power might mean here. I don’t know how you spend your vacation, but … Continue reading

Posted in Power | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reality Check: When We Lose Power