self Archives - Blocks of Life

September 26, 2026September 22, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Maintaining Mindfulness—Being Present over the Long Term

Mindfulness is a wonderful practice with a host of benefits. When we engage in mindfulness, the world can seem like a different place—colors are more vivid, relationships more dynamic, and we are more focused on what we’re doing. It can seem like we’re more alive. However, many people who are committed to being mindful struggle with making it a consistent part of their everyday mindset. It’s easy to be mindful if we’ve just participated in a workshop or read a book about mindfulness, but our discipline may wane over time, and we can find ourselves distracted, worried about the future, and in firm control of the monkey mind.

How can we make mindfulness practices a consistent part of who we are? How can we build mindfulness into our psyche so that we don’t have to be on the see-saw between mindfulness and distraction? It can be difficult, but it’s not complicated. Like any habit, it comes down to creating a regular routine and sticking to it. It involves making mindfulness as much a part of your life as eating, working, or anything else you do every day without having to remind yourself.

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?

August 29, 2026August 28, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Ikigai—Find Your Reason For Being: A Review

Fulfillment and finding one’s purpose in life are common themes in this blog and in my own life. When I saw Ikigai—Find Your Reason for Being: Uncover the Japanese Secret to Happiness and Purpose in Your Life by John Lancashire, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more about the concept, which has been part of Japanese culture for centuries.

in Book Reviews 0 comments

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

April 11, 2026April 6, 2026 by Pete Wiley

People Balance—Solitude and the Need for Human Connection

Some people lead solitary lives—some by choice, others not. Most of us desire a certain level of human contact in our lives. When we don’t have it, we experience a growing yearning, which can become quite urgent if our solitude goes on for too long. The forced solitude experienced by many during the pandemic[1] is resulting in many people feeling this sense of urgency and with no outlet. Days continue to stream by. They may have a periodic video call for work or with family, but ultimately, they’re alone, and they’ve been alone. When we’re faced with solitude, we look for opportunities for any human connection. A quick chat with a server at a restaurant, passing the time with a fellow shopper while standing in line, or some small talk in passing with a neighbor can all be lifelines when we’re feeling truly alone. But we can also feel overwhelmed when we are faced with too much interaction—we feel a need for some solitude. Like anything else in life, balance is key.

in Emotions / Proactive 0 comments