Tag Archives: unhappiness

Reality Check: Do You Feel Appreciated?

Knowing that we are genuinely appreciated is satisfying. From a choice theory perspective, we might say that appreciation satisfies our need for power, recognition, esteem. Regardless of how we analyze it, appreciation feels good. I sincerely hope that you have … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Finding the Good Thing

Humans seem to be wired to easily recognize bad things—danger, fear, hostility—and skip over good things. I’m sure there’s a perfectly sensible survival-related reason for that. However, if the lens we look through shows us only negatives, it makes for … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Connecting with others

Have you noticed changes in your relationships over these past few weeks? With the requirements and warnings to stay away from people—to literally isolate ourselves—we’re no longer getting together for in-person gatherings. Perhaps you’re accustomed to dropping in for a … Continue reading

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Reality Check: The Dull of Winter

Winter. The dull days, grey clouds, rain, drizzle, fog, and yes, even snow, can be a hard time of year. It’s as if the sun takes a vacation (probably gone south.) For some folks, those dull days stir up dull, … Continue reading

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Reality Check: There will always be an Irma

Are there people in your life who bug you? Treat you badly? Is this the story of your life? Sweet little Mary was picked on throughout her first year of school. Her nemesis was Irma, a big girl in a … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Blue Day Defenses

Ever had a blue day? No? You can skip this column, then. However, if “blue day” is sadly recognizable for you, read on. Our actions affect our feelings, so if you are feeling down and you don’t like that feeling, … 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: A Step in the “Take Charge” Direction

The word “crisis” conveys a sense of urgency and it’s sometimes associated with the mental health system, accompanied by commentary that there aren’t enough resources and things are getting worse. Perhaps that’s true; perhaps it’s not. Allocation of resources will … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Building a Happier Marriage

Fundamental to choice theory is its emphasis on our basic human need for love and belonging. One way we attempt to satisfy that need is through marriage. The idea of marriage is great. Two people publicly declare their love and … Continue reading

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Reality Check: If Only I Were…

It’s easy to find faults in others if one is inclined to do so. If you choose a mindset that compares others to your own internal standard of “how people should be,” you’ll readily see how they fall short. If … Continue reading

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