perception Archives - Blocks of Life

October 24, 2026October 22, 2026 by Pete Wiley

When Regret Becomes Fear

All of us have regrets—cringeworthy moments that we look back on with mortification, shame, and perhaps a healthy dose of self-loathing. But making mistakes is part of learning, growing, and becoming better. Before you allow yourself to become consumed by regret, consider that your mistake was likely a bigger deal in your mind than it was in anyone else’s. You may also have gained something from the experience—insight, wisdom, and, hopefully, newfound empathy—that you wouldn’t have gained otherwise. The biggest mistake you can make is becoming afraid to live your life as your head and heart guide you.

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?

July 18, 2026July 9, 2026 by Pete Wiley

When a Setback Isn’t a Disaster

When is a setback not a disaster? Those of us who have been fortunate enough to build good lives often begin to view certain elements of those lives as essential to our happiness. If we lose one of them, even temporarily, we may feel as though everything has fallen apart. We may believe we have to start over, when all we really need is a course correction. But if we move through life expecting setbacks and prepare for them as much as possible, our disappointment may be softened. We may even discover opportunities we would not have found otherwise. Disappointments will still come, but they may seem less overwhelming when we place them within the larger context of our lives.

in Emotions / Open Mind / Uncategorized 0 comments

July 4, 2026July 1, 2026 by Pete Wiley

When “I Have To” Isn’t Enough

Do what you love, and you’ll lead a happy life, right? Well, it’s not always that simple. No one does only what makes them happy. There will always be parts of life we would rather avoid: certain duties at work, housework, commuting, social obligations, and even activities we may feel uneasy about doing. Responsibilities are part of life. But if we look more closely at the things we do because we feel we “have to,” we may discover that some are not as burdensome as we assumed, while others may not truly be required of us at all.

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May 9, 2026April 29, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Navigating the Rocky Road to Confidence

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, closed-mindedness, and dogmatism. Confidence is generally considered to be a positive attribute, but it’s a slippery slope toward more closed-minded attributes. Confidence is an important attribute, but you can’t just turn it on; it has to be developed over time through experience. Some seem to have confidence from the moment they can walk and talk, but even those with natural confidence have to test that confidence through their experiences and interactions. The key is to learn what you’re capable of, what your strengths are, and how to be consistent in your behavior.

in Emotions / Open Mind 0 comments