13 quotes
When we depress, we believe we are the victims of a feeling over which we have no control.
Choice Theory (1997)
Drugs provide pleasure; they cannot provide happiness. For happiness, you need people.
Choice Theory (1997)
The most destructive habit [to relationships] is criticizing; next comes blaming, but any of the habits are more than capable of disconnecting you from a person you want to be close with.
Unhappy Teenagers A Way for Parents and Teachers to Reach Them (2002)
We would be much better off getting rid of the psychology that is causing so much misery than looking for chemicals that make us feel better but do nothing to solve our loneliness.
Choice Theory (1997)
Brain drugs may make us feel better, but they do not solve the problems that led us to feel miserable
Choice Theory (1997)
We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives.
Choice Theory (1997)
If you depend on the widespread lover's delusion, 'With my love he or she will change,' you have little chance to help yourself. This delusion is external control to the maximum. If things are not good from the beginning, they are very likely to change, but not for the better.
Choice Theory (1997)
What happened in the past that was painful has a great deal to do with what we are today, but revisiting this painful past can contribute little or nothing to what we need to do now: improve an important, present relationship.
Choice Theory (1997)
[Reality Therapy] is based on choice theory and focuses on improving present relationships, almost always disregards past relationships, and depends for its success on creating a good relationship between the client and the counselor.
Choice Theory (1997)
When a client says, It's hard to say, he usually knows what's really going on but doesn't want to talk about it....I break through that reluctance by acting as if it wasn't there. 'Well, say it anyway. This is the place to say hard-to-say-things.
Choice Theory (1997)
The Seven Deadly Habits of External Control: Blaming, Criticizing, Complaining, Nagging, Threatening, Punishing, and Bribing (Rewarding to Control).
Unhappy Teenagers A Way for Parents and Teachers to Reach Them (2002)
Beware of getting involved with people who seem to be able to feel good but have no close friends. They may be witty and fun to be around, but their humor is all put-downs and hostility. If you marry such a person, you will soon be the recipient of that hostile humor and may regret it for the rest of your marriage....Someone who does not have good friends does not know how to love.
Choice Theory (1997)
Such people who choose to depress are not mentally ill; their brain chemistry is not abnormal. It is changed from what it is when they are happy, but that change is perfectly normal for the total behavior, depressing, they are choosing....The brain chemistry no more causes his depressing than sweating causes running. It is the choice to depress or to run that results in both.
Choice Theory (1997)