Emotions Archives - Page 4 of 27

August 2, 2025June 2, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Making Meaning Matter—Finding Fulfillment in Your Life

What are the ingredients of a meaningful life? The simple answer is finding something personally meaningful to you. But, of course, it’s not that simple. It’s vital to understand how endeavors are meaningful to you. What do they give you? How do they make you feel? There are several ways to consider this. One is that an activity fills you with pride and makes you feel good about yourself and how you spend your time. Another is having a positive impact on the world and making a difference. A third is discovery or developing a deeper understanding of something. A meaningful life may be related to your career, a hobby, or how you interact with people. There are many ways to find meaning in your 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.

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.

in Emotions / Open Mind 0 comments

April 26, 2025April 3, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Pick Up the Pieces—Looking Forward After a Tragedy

I’ve always hated the phrase, “Things happen for a reason.” I much prefer the perspective of opportunity. When people experience a loss, it’s important to process the event as a loss. An event causes pain, and to deny that pain is to deny that part of yourself and inhibit your ability to process the pain. At the same time, a painful event can change the nature of your life. Your existence is based on a certain order of things: your emotional landscape, your connections, your livelihood, and your activities. If one of these is altered or removed, you will move toward a new order of things. This process may be arbitrary, or if you’re intentional, the process can be based on the direction you want to go.

in Emotions / Proactive 0 comments

March 15, 2025February 20, 2025 by Pete Wiley

The Thorny Path of Irritability

It might start with a series of little things, or it might start with a big thing. There are many paths toward irritability, but you only take one. Once you’re down that path, you’re committed. The mood runs its course, and you have to ride it out. But the choice is yours whether to ride it out with eyes wide open or in a state of rage-fueled, self-righteous denial. Either way, irritability can ruin your day, making everything seem heavy and onerous. But even in this state, you have an opportunity to get to know yourself better.

in Emotions / Mindful 0 comments