The Loss of Our Teacher and Mentor

-

Dr Glasser

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of our teacher, mentor and friend.  Dr William Glasser MD passed away peacefully in his home in Los Angeles on the 23 August, 2013.

Glasser visited New Zealand on two occasions.  Each time he brought the energy of his teaching as he connected with many throughout the country.  His attendance at the conference in Christchurch was a standout time for those of us who attended.

Gwen Sands and I had dinner with him following that conference, and we will both always have that memory etched in our quality worlds.

I wish to pay tribute to him and what I think is some of what he has taught us.

Dr Glasser - The Lens Maker
The lens through which we view the world is the beliefs we have about how we live our lives.  Are we at the mercy of things and people outside ourselves or do we have control?  This lens impacts on how we interact with others, how we accept what is happening with us and those around us.   If we view the world as ‘doing things’ to us – we can easily slip into the disconnecting habits of blaming and complaining.  Through the lens of internal control psychology we learn that we can make better choices.

Dr Glasser – The Code Breaker
It has been said that we are born without an instruction manual.  Dr Glasser has given us the simple framework of the Basic Needs to understand our driving motivations.  By teaching us this, he has given us the manual for understanding ourselves and others. With this knowledge we can help others take charge of their lives.

Dr Glasser – The Matchmaker
In sharing his theory about the basic needs, we learned about the strengths of the needs.  Knowing your genetic profile or the strengths of you five basic needs and those of someone with whom you are in a relationship, can give valuable information about possible pitfalls. Need strengths profiles that are significantly different can be perceived as a barrier to the relationship, however, awareness of these differences can enable understanding and acceptance.

Dr Glasser – The Peacemaker
The Solving Circle is a very useful way of getting couples on their front wheels and continuing to work hard at their relationship.  Knowing that the only person someone can change is him or herself, this strategy sets up a situation where people within a relationship can see a way forward.  It is useful not only for partners in a relationship but with groups of children in a family or at school. 

Dr Glasser – The Saver of Schools
If all schools were Glasser Quality Schools, we would impact significantly on the world.  Schools where students are self managing, achieving at high standards and are joyful in learning, means that students leave as happier and healthier individuals.  Research shows us that if children are self managing by the age of ten, it impacts on their long term health, wealth and their likelihood of committing crime.  We would need fewer prisons, fewer hospitals and the world would be a safer place for everyone.

Dr Glasser – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the learning we have gained because of your work.

We will strive to show a better way to live by continuing to ‘Strengthen New Zealand though Choice Theory Psychology” Choosing, Connecting Change

With Love and Peace
Bette Blance  President William Glasser Institute-New Zealand

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strengthening New Zealand So People Don't Want to Leave

-
I watched a current affairs program about the New Zealanders going to live in Australia in their thousands over the last five years. The current situation is that New Zealanders arriving in Australia are temporary citizens, not able to access any government money in the form of grants or benefits. That people cannot access unemployment benefits is a good thing, as it is often too easy to become dependent instead of standing on your own two feet.   However, the argument was the children who have gone with their parents to live in Australia since 2003 are unable to access student loans when they wish to study and will need to pay overseas student fees which are significantly higher. Minister Peter Garrett responded to questions about this situation, stating that New Zealanders were making the choice, knowing this information before they left New Zealand.   He did indicate that there were avenues, government to government that could be undertaken to change this situation. He handled a
Read more

The Solving Circle

-
The Solving Circle William Glasser’s Solving Circle has many applications and can be adapted for use with students in schools.  It is a valuable tool in the toolbox of the Lead Manager. This example explains a process that was used in a primary school in Queensland Australia with great success and with long-lasting results. The Story Every person who joins a group changes the dynamics.  A new year six student arrived at Arundel State School during the year.  She was a vivacious, attractive girl from South Africa of Indian descent. The ‘in-group’ of year six girls immediately included her in their group.  After a time,  the relationship began to deteriorate and  turned quite nasty and it descended into name-calling and general put-downs, ending up a catfight and the girls scratching of each other.  Parents became involved.  The classroom teacher and I were both Glasser advocates and decided this would be an excellent opportunity to use the Solving Circle.  I
Read more

Repeat Offenders

-
  According to the New Zealand Department of Corrections website,  one in every two prisoners is re-convicted and re-imprisoned within four years of release. With a 50% failure rate, is what we are doing working? Anne Tolley, Minister of Corrections wants to reduce this rate by 25%.           How about 3.5%  That is the result of a 2012 longitudinal university study in the Californian Institution for Women. These inmates are being taught how they can have control over their lives  by Instructors from the William Glasser Institute.  Over a period of five years 500 women have spent over 100 hours learning Choice Theory.  There is currently a waiting list of 200 women wanting to be involved.  They request transfers from other prisons to be able to learn this life -changing program. Of the 175 women paroled, only five have returned to prison.  That is 3.5% - a long way better than 25%. This training is available in New Zealand.  Perhaps we need to look at what it can do f
Read more