Opportunity Archives - Page 2 of 13

July 6, 2024May 6, 2024 by Pete Wiley

People are Different—Embrace It

God, they’re irritating!

Everyone has people in their lives who get under their skin. It might be what they say or how they say it. It might be a behavior or habit they have. But nobody goes through life without someone who just irritates the hell out of them. But what can you do? Well, you do have choices. You can engage on their level or take the bait. You can be passive-aggressive regarding their behavior. You can also cut them out of your lives. But at the end of the day, people will be who they are, so you need to decide if you still want them in your life, and if so, you have to accept who they are.

June 3, 2024June 4, 2024 by Pete Wiley

Poetry (and Music!) in Motion

Today, I am excited to announce the release of my first book of poetry, Many Paths: An Exploration of Hope, Healing, and Personal Growth.

Describing a meaningful and fulfilling life in words is challenging. Although relating the elements of our lives is useful and allows for a practical and detailed understanding, to delve deeper into the emotional aspects of our triumphs and challenges, our passions and pursuits, we need a more creative and nuanced medium. Poetry and music express these ideas in ways that a description could not—in ways that resonate with the reader emotionally and genuinely. I have explored my emotional journey with music and poetry for as long as I can remember, and nothing can compare to these mediums in terms of expressing emotions. Starting about five years ago, I started to write poetry and music based on the ideas in these blog posts and it was the answer I needed to make these ideas whole.

I have taken one of the poems from the book and put it to music in I Look to the Leaves. Although all of my songs contain lyrics, this is the first that began as a poem and became a song.

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May 25, 2024March 25, 2024 by Pete Wiley

Your Vision for Who You Are—Owning It

Most people have a vision for who they are and how they live. This includes how they interact with others, how much they eat and drink, exercise, and sleep patterns. It also might include how much time they devote to their family, job, or passions. You won’t always live your life in a way that is entirely consistent with that vision—no one can—but how you react to missteps is key to making your vision realistic. If you constantly berate yourself over something you did or didn’t do, you’re making it more than it should be and denying part of who you are. If you incorporate imperfection into your vision, you will be much more likely to realize it.

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March 30, 2024February 23, 2024 by Pete Wiley

Out of the Sandbox—How to Respond to Irrational Behavior

We’ve all been there. You’re going along with your day, and suddenly, someone lashes out. It might be anyone—a friend, coworker, or family member—and it is totally unexpected. You don’t understand. You didn’t do anything wrong. The person is acting like a child. Your first reaction might be defensiveness—hopping right into the sandbox. You don’t realize that your reaction might also be seen as irrational. You try not to react right away. But then you repeat the person’s behavior repeatedly in your head and start fuming.

in Emotions / Proactive / Uncategorized 0 comments

November 25, 2023November 22, 2023 by Pete Wiley

Vulnerability—The Benefits of Taking a Chance

Vulnerability is often thought of as a negative state. It is clearly negative in many contexts, such as business strategy, physical infrastructure, or national security. From the perspective of an individual, vulnerability can also feel negative. When you’re vulnerable, there is a greater chance you’ll be hurt, embarrassed, or will fail. But it’s also true that allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a meaningful way to learn (particularly about yourself), grow, and find opportunities you may otherwise have missed.

in Emotions / Open Mind 0 comments