The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
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Similarly, it is true that certain types <strong>of</strong> environment encourage certain types<strong>of</strong> behavior. However, the people in those environments can choose to changethem, and, in changing them, they will change their influence on them. Reciprocaldeterminism refers to this process <strong>of</strong> continual back-and-forth influence, in whichthe environment “determines” human behavior and human behavior “determines”the nature <strong>of</strong> the environment. In this way, human behavior creates newenvironments, which, in turn, “determine” human behavior in a new way.This concept was very freeing for me. It allowed me to retain an empiricalstance toward human behavior, including, <strong>of</strong> course, my own, while leaving roomfor dreams <strong>of</strong> making a difference, having an impact on my world, and being ableto mold my life in a way that would bring me nearer to the goals I valued.Practical implications <strong>of</strong> a probabilistic approach<strong>The</strong>re are several simple implications <strong>of</strong> this probabilistic approach. Topractice the reality management approach, it is important to ensure that one’sexternal and internal reality both remain healthy. <strong>The</strong> most immediate segment <strong>of</strong>external reality is our body. To increase the probability that our body will remainin a healthy state, we need to engage in behaviors known to produce health. <strong>The</strong>seinclude getting sufficient sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. In all three<strong>of</strong> these areas, it is important to remember to strive for a healthy range: Too muchsleep, food, or exercise can be as damaging as too little.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 66