Tag Archives: examining wants

Reality Check: Pictures of Celebration

It’s the time of year when we are surrounded by pictures of celebration and joy. There are images of beaming families who obviously love each other and probably never disagree. They sit at tables overflowing with perfectly cooked, delicious food, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Unintended Effects

When we interact with people, we have control over how we behave. We can choose our actions, our thoughts, perceptions, and to some degree, even our feelings. What we can’t control is what others do. Smiling at a stranger doesn’t … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Joy of Groundrules

How’s the new job, Sara? It’s ok, but there are an awful lot of rules. There’s a rule for when you come in, when you leave, what you can say to customers, what you do during slow times…There is a … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Just doing my job…

“If only I could go to work and just do my job…” Do you ever think like that? Does your version of that wistful statement end with a “but”? If so, you are not alone. There’s plenty of disgruntlement to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: I Could Write Myself a Letter

If I were going to sit right down and write myself a letter…what would I say? More importantly, if you were to write yourself a letter, what would you say? When you find yourself troubled by a question that won’t … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Does the News Hurt Your Relationships?

There’s almost always an election in season somewhere. A survey asked whether an election has negatively affected a personal relationship with a friend or family member. It wasn’t about a Canadian election. No matter; it’s still an interesting question that … Continue reading

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Reality Check: When there’s no perfect option

Have you ever needed to make a decision, only to find that there isn’t a single perfect option among the possibilities? That’s the usual case, isn’t it? If there were a perfect option, we’d go right ahead and choose that. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Your Happiness and Other People’s Stuff

An application of choice theory called WDEP starts with, “What do you want?” Different people want different things. Taking the time to first identify what you want helps you choose what actions to take to get it. “What you want” … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Barriers to Happiness

To start this New Year, I’m choosing to focus on happiness. For some time now, I’ve been interested in the question of why some people are happy while others are not. As I’ve studied this question, I’ve found books, articles, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Choices of Conversation

It’s that time of year when people get together. Perhaps you’ll attend an office party to socialize with your fellow workers. Perhaps you’ll catch up with seldom-seen relatives. Maybe you’ll be partying with friends. In any case, it’s possible you’ll … Continue reading

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