Little Book of Choice Theory®

What Choice Theory Can Do for You

Are you satisfied with your life right now?
Do you find your work environment motivating?
Are your personal relationships supportive?
Do you feel in control of your life?
How would you like to be able to respond a resounding “YES!” to each of these questions?

IT IS POSSIBLE! You have the power within you to create this type of life and Choice Theory provides the tools to do it.

The first question to ask yourself is: Whose behavior can you control?
You know the answer to that question – right?
Everyone knows they can only control their own behavior.

Next question: Whose behavior do you try to control?
It’s a rare person who doesn’t answer that they try to control everyone else’s behavior all day long!

Choice Theory helps you notice when you are trying to control others. Its concepts guide you to change your focus to what you can do to improve the situation.

Most human interactions can be enhanced with a good understanding and consistent practice of Choice Theory.

It has helped people become better leaders, teachers, spouses and friends. It can also aid in improving the most important relationship you have – the one with yourself.

Choice Theory began as an explanation of all human behavior. It has evolved into a method to help people change and modify their controlling beliefs and behaviors. Now, it is used by many to provide invaluable guidance for a satisfying life.

Choice Theory has been applied in the areas of: mental health, anger management, stress management, couple’s relationships, parenting, corrections, drug & alcohol, foster care, leadership, teambuilding and diversity.

The point is that Choice Theory is not just for improving personal relationships. It is applicable in all aspects of your life. If you think about it, most of the conflict you encounter is due to your interactions with people.

First and foremost, Choice Theory is a model of hope and empowerment. It helps you to gain the confidence to develop healthy coping skills to handle the most difficult circumstances.

The premise is that there is nothing wrong with you. No matter how difficult your life is, you are not broken. You are just doing the best you can with what you’ve been dealt.

Choice Theory gets you started by helping you focus on what you can control. It can help you move from a position of powerlessness to taking responsibility for your life. You may not be responsible for what happened to you, but you do control what you choose to do about it. And, the behaviors you choose allow you to get your needs met without preventing others from meeting theirs.

The first step in taking responsibility for your life is to gain an understanding about what is within your control.

Complete the exercise in the next section to create an awareness of the types of situations you try to affect throughout your day. Are you spending much of your time trying to control things that are out of your control?

Next Steps

We hope you have enjoyed this quick overview of Choice Theory. Several new concepts were introduced here. If you didn’t do the exercises, go back and complete them now. Then, try implementing these concepts in your life for a few weeks.

If you like these ideas, understanding them is the first step to making change. Learning about Choice Theory concepts and intellectually grasping their meaning is easy. It’s much more challenging to actually attempt to use them in your life – either personally or professionally. We have four ways for you to bridge that gap from an intellectual understanding to actual implementation for a more satisfying life.

1. You could become a member of the Glasser Institute for Choice Theory (GIFCT). The fee is only $50 for a full year, which gives you access to Weekly Question & Answer sessions. Here, you would be able to receive answers to your questions from experienced members and hear stories about how Choice Theory has made a difference in their lives.
2. Enroll in the Take Charge of Your Life eCourse. This course will take you step-by-step through the concepts of Choice Theory, literally enabling you to take charge of your own life. As a bonus, when you sign up for this course, you will receive access to eight weeks of the Weekly Q&A sessions free.
3. If you want more personalized help, consider signing up for group coaching sessions or hiring one of our individual coaches certified in Choice Theory.
4. Sign up for a Basic Intensive Training. This is a comprehensive 3 or 4-day course that will give you more exposure to the concepts of Choice Theory and allow you to practice what you’ve learned. This course is the first step in becoming certified in Choice Theory, which will create opportunities for you to get involved in our mission of teaching the world Choice Theory.