When Marie met Darcy, she immediately fell in love with his kind heart. Darcy never said no to any good cause, and as there are plenty of good causes, his practical skills and good nature kept him in high demand.
Before they married, Darcy’s ongoing contributions helped Marie and Darcy stay connected. They worked together, lending their time and skills to projects they both believed in. This was a very satisfying time; both Marie and Darcy felt that they were making their world a better place.
Time went on; marriage and the subsequent blessing of a set of twins brought a few changes! Continue reading
Progress has given us enhanced opportunities to connect with each other. Whereas a phone call could be perceived as an interruption, email (much like an old-fashioned letter!) can be read at leisure.
Social networks, such as facebook, contribute another interesting quality. You can see what’s going on with someone without ever entering a conversation; it’s a bit like taking a peek into someone’s back yard when they’re not home. Continue reading
“.. for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” Shakespeare’s famous line elegantly expresses that different people perceive things in different ways. In this case, Hamlet expressed that he perceived Denmark as a prison; others didn’t share that perception.
We get information about the real world through our senses: we see, hear, touch… That information is processed through our personal internal filters, which choice theory refers to as the “perceptual system.” It plays a major role in how you and I can see the same real world, yet perceive it quite differently. Continue reading
We’ve already looked at a couple who had neglected to share important aspects of their lives with each other until it was almost too late. It is important to recognize when it’s time to speak up about what you are thinking and feeling.
There are also times when it is helpful to keep thoughts and feelings to yourself. Really? When? Continue reading
We each have our special qualities, yet groups of us share characteristics, such as whether one is an introvert or extravert. In her book, “Gifts Differing,” Isabel Briggs Myers states that there are more extraverts than introverts, with extraverts being “more vocal” than introverts.
The implication is that those numerous extraverts are ready and willing to offer their opinions, suggestions, and comments at the drop of a hat, while introverts, for whom it’s natural to remain silent, prefer to leave their thoughts unspoken, even when asked. Continue reading
“It is within your power to feel better.” That’s according to Dr. Bob Wubbolding, in “A Set of Directions for Putting and Keeping Yourself Together.”
How much power do you have over your feelings? In choice theory, we say that a feeling is part of a whole “package” of behaviour, which includes our thoughts and actions. By changing what you are thinking and doing, you have the power to change your feelings.
What triggers feelings of worry for you? Continue reading
Whether it’s a significant fear or just a twinge of uneasiness, most folks experience the state of “being worried” from time to time.
A variety of actions and thoughts come along for the ride when our main behaviour is worrying. Are there common threads? Continue reading
