Blocks of Life -

October 10, 2026October 6, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Reason in an Unreasonable Age

Be reasonable! That phrase, often patronizing or pleading, carries a wealth of meaning that goes far beyond a simple call for logic or rationality. There is a certain comfort in the words reason and reasonable. They suggest cooler heads, emotional restraint, and calm. They can also point toward a deliberate, thoughtful approach to problem-solving. In these uncertain times, reason is sorely needed to counter the impulsive, inflammatory words and actions that seem to occur with disturbing regularity. But what does it actually mean to lean into reason?

September 26, 2026September 22, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Maintaining Mindfulness—Being Present over the Long Term

Mindfulness is a wonderful practice with a host of benefits. When we engage in mindfulness, the world can seem like a different place—colors are more vivid, relationships more dynamic, and we are more focused on what we’re doing. It can seem like we’re more alive. However, many people who are committed to being mindful struggle with making it a consistent part of their everyday mindset. It’s easy to be mindful if we’ve just participated in a workshop or read a book about mindfulness, but our discipline may wane over time, and we can find ourselves distracted, worried about the future, and in firm control of the monkey mind.

How can we make mindfulness practices a consistent part of who we are? How can we build mindfulness into our psyche so that we don’t have to be on the see-saw between mindfulness and distraction? It can be difficult, but it’s not complicated. Like any habit, it comes down to creating a regular routine and sticking to it. It involves making mindfulness as much a part of your life as eating, working, or anything else you do every day without having to remind yourself.

September 12, 2026August 30, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Making Peace With Time

People have strange relationships with time. Generally, we perceive time as something we either don’t have enough of or have too much of. How often do you have a day when what you do lines up exactly with the time you have? Even those skilled in time management may be able to align their available time with a specific set of activities, but they may still have a long to-do list that never makes it into the daily schedule. For many people, the workweek is a race against available time. But in certain circumstances, or at a certain age, the balance may shift the other way. You may feel the hours stretching out in front of you with no meaningful way to fill them. Is it possible to influence your perception of time passing?

in Open Mind / Proactive 0 comments

August 29, 2026August 28, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Ikigai—Find Your Reason For Being: A Review

Fulfillment and finding one’s purpose in life are common themes in this blog and in my own life. When I saw Ikigai—Find Your Reason for Being: Uncover the Japanese Secret to Happiness and Purpose in Your Life by John Lancashire, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more about the concept, which has been part of Japanese culture for centuries.

in Book Reviews 0 comments

August 15, 2026August 10, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Don’t Let the Bad Become Everything

Focus on the good in your life. When things are going smoothly, it is easy to focus on what is good. You may still have small headaches and minor setbacks, but overall, life feels steady and positive. It is when things go south that staying positive becomes both more difficult and more important. Focusing only on the negative aspects of your life can become a slippery slope. It may lead to self-pity, catastrophizing, and prioritizing the wrong things. Developing the habit of keeping the good things in your life—both past and future—at the forefront of your thoughts can help keep negativity at bay and allow you to stay focused on the path toward your goals.

in Emotions / Proactive 0 comments