Open Mind Archives - Blocks of Life

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.

May 10, 2025April 9, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Heaven and Hell—The Realms Inside You

I believe in heaven and hell. They are as good (heaven) and as bad (hell) as you might imagine. But to me, they are not places but part of the human condition. We create our own heaven and/or hell inside of us and in our lives. If you have a positive, meaningful life and have a good perspective on how good your life is, you reside in heaven. If you’re petty, narcissistic, and selfish, and you view your life as one of winning and losing, you are in hell. The good news is that you have a choice of where you reside. There are people who have a hard life full of tragedy and heartache that still reside in heaven because they are able to focus on the good parts of their lives and the people who love them. There are also people who have everything they could possibly want but only see the challenges in their lives. They are living in hell by choice.

April 12, 2025April 3, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Too Much of a Good Thing—Keeping Balance in Your Life

Everyone has elements of their lives that they love. It might be their work, a hobby, or building wealth. But anything you are passionate about can be diminished if you do little else. Balance in life is essential. Key activities, such as health, self-care, or relationships, might be ignored if you become monomaniacal about a single activity. Like any other element of your life, the ones you love must be planned and carried out intentionally. The more you make time for activities that make you more grounded and healthy, the better you’ll be able to engage in what you love.

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March 29, 2025April 3, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Productivity, Creativity, and Rest—Finding a Balance

Time is an enigma. We either have too much of it or too little of it. You can go from not finding a spare second to breathe to bemoaning a long, uneventful Sunday afternoon with nothing to do. Too little time can be overwhelming and exhausting, but too much time can be frightening. Busy people dream of a time when they can relax and recoup, but resting all the time quickly becomes tedious and unfulfilling. You might have productivity goals and be intentional about periods of rest, and ideally, these are balanced. On top of these, you might have creative endeavors that add meaning to your life, and these activities must be added to the equation. It seems straightforward, but for many, finding this balance is almost impossible.

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February 15, 2025January 23, 2025 by Pete Wiley

An Ending is Not Always a Failure

When something ends—a relationship, a passion, a job—we often characterize the experience as a failure. It may have had periods where it was magical and unique, but we emphasize that it is over and how painful that is. Instead of focusing on the wonderful experiences and special memories, we only think about the end and the pain and regret that come with it. It’s important to remember that everything will eventually end, and with the proper perspective, you can make the ending as meaningful as the experience itself.

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