Pete Wiley, Author at Blocks of Life

July 19, 2025May 19, 2025 by Pete Wiley

I Can’t Believe I Said That!

There’s always a grain of truth to anything you say. It may not be in the specific words, but the emotions behind those words are likely genuine. You can’t control your feelings, but your actions are entirely in your control. The trick is discerning what actions are appropriate in different emotional contexts. Saying something you don’t mean is a common outcome of an intense emotional state. You may later look back and find it hard to believe that those words actually came out of your mouth. Rather than feeling regret and anxiety about what you said, it is healthier to explore what you were feeling at the time and, if appropriate, discuss what you said with who you said it.

July 5, 2025May 8, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Embracing Life—Making the Most of What You Are Given

Life is a gift, but like all gifts, its value depends on the person receiving it. Most people embrace life to some extent, and others muddle through as best they can. What are the factors related to the joy of living? These are as varied as the people who possess them. Someone’s joy in life might be related to how much energy they have, how fortunate they’ve been, or the opportunities they’ve enjoyed. Enthusiasm for life can be driven by someone’s personality, courage, or curiosity and can be impacted by hardships, tragedies, or life circumstances. But whatever brings about your drive for life, it’s important to be aware of it and what factors in your life influence it.

June 21, 2025May 1, 2025 by Pete Wiley

The Unfolding of Friendships—How Relationships Evolve Over Time

When you make close friends, especially when you’re young, they click easily and are fun and carefree. There may be drama, and some friendships won’t last, but they aren’t hard work for the most part. But as you gain years and experience, you also gain insights and opinions and become more set in your ways. You may disagree more with old friends or find certain characteristics irritating or puerile. You may even question why you’re still friends. But I’ve got news for you: people may feel that way about you, too. Long-term friendships are valuable and rare; don’t dismiss any long-term relationship as not worth the effort without serious reflection and thought.

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June 7, 2025April 23, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Dichotomies Within—Understanding the Opposing Forces in You

Most people have parts of themselves that are hard to fathom. You might know someone who is friendly and gregarious but needs to have time to themselves. Someone might seem sympathetic and compassionate, and suddenly, you see a cruel or aggressive side. Rarely is someone’s complete makeup painted with the same stroke. That’s what makes people interesting—and hard to predict. It’s very likely the same is true for you. If you look within yourself, you will likely find parts that are incongruous with how you or others think of you. Understanding these aspects of your makeup will give you peace and help you choose a path consistent with those dichotomies.

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May 24, 2025April 17, 2025 by Pete Wiley

The State of Humanity—To Evolve or Not to Evolve

Humans are pretty disappointing as a species. Yes, we’ve made technological advances and created artistic marvels, but have we really evolved? In this context, I’m not talking about evolution in the Darwinian sense. I’m using the word generally to describe a balanced progression of the human species that will keep us alive and thriving. While we have seen gains in some areas, there have not been coinciding advances in critical aspects of human nature, such as wisdom and compassion. Without these, we are seriously at risk. We will eventually be doomed due to our passions, combined with our technology. Of course, there are sagacious and compassionate people in this world, but they aren’t involved enough in charting our course as a species or making decisions.

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