Advertising is a fascinating field. Its usual purpose is to persuade us to do something we might not do otherwise. Often, the goal is to sell, but there can be other goals, too. Advertisers may try to convince us to take an action we wouldn’t otherwise take, or even to believe something that we might not otherwise believe. Continue reading
Firmly fixed in Johnny’s mind is the idea that life is unfair. More specifically, life is unfair to him. Whether it’s at work, with his parents, his teachers, even with his friends, Johnny often feels as if he is under attack.
And Johnny is happy to list examples of these injustices. Whether it‘s as a toddler 20 years ago, or an event from 20 minutes ago, there’s a story carefully kept alive in Johnny’s memory that he can use to illustrate his mistreatment compared to others. Continue reading
Johnny feels picked on. He is sure that he is treated unfairly compared to others. Even worse, he is convinced that it’s the story of his entire life.
When I introduced Johnny in an earlier column, I suggested that he carefully examine his perceptions. Is he really treated unfairly, as he believes? Continue reading
“I’d do anything for my child.” If you’re a mom or dad, and even if you aren’t, you can understand that sentiment. You already know that some children, and even some adults, seem to be “picked on” more than others. No matter whether it’s school, the playground, university, or even the workplace, life progresses smoothly for some folks, while for others, every interaction is a struggle. Continue reading
We Maritimers have something in common; we’re always aware of the weather. When the sun shines and the birds are singing, everyone smiles; when it’s a (rare) dull, dreary day, it’s common for folks to feel dull and dreary too.
If you’ve been reading these columns and have a sense of reality therapy principles, you probably have a pretty good idea of what’s coming. It’ll be something like, Continue reading
We all need others to some degree. In reality therapy, that’s referred to as the need for love and belonging. Our lives are more satisfying when we can spend time with people we care about.
However, there are benefits to spending time alone, too! If you have the opportunity to spend time with just “me, myself, and I” (with the TV, computer, and phone turned off), you could uncover some helpful insights about yourself. In case you don’t have that luxury of time alone, let’s pretend for a moment… Continue reading
Have you ever entered into a bargain without realizing it? Alice did, and now she’s getting a daily dose of frustration from an arrangement she thought would be to her benefit. Here’s her story. Continue reading
To finish up this series on agendas in relationships, let’s take a look at a “helping” relationship. This could be a counselling relationship, but I’ll look at a simpler relationship, such as with a coach or a mentor.
When one person asks another for help or advice, the implication is that the person being asked is wiser, more knowledgeable, or somehow better equipped to come up with a solution than the asker…that they “know what’s best for you.” Continue reading
When we think of relationships, we usually think of friends, family members, and social acquaintances. However, relationships at work are important too. In fact, we may spend more time with co-workers, bosses, and employees than we do with our friends and family.
The branch of reality therapy that deals with work is called lead management. In lead management, Dr. Glasser adds a choice theory perspective Continue reading
Whether it’s back in the past or going on right now, every one of us has experienced teacher-learner relationships. While school might immediately spring to mind, there are plenty of places where teaching and learning occur—at work, with our friends, at the computer…
After you’ve experienced different ways of learning, it might seem that it’s easier to learn outside of school than it ever was to learn in school. Continue reading
