thought Archives - Blocks of Life

November 8, 2025October 8, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Magical Moments—Making Experiences Special

Some moments in life are truly special. You experience them as if in a dream, and you keep them in a sacred place in your heart and your memory. Over time, they may become the stuff of personal legend—the experiences that shaped who you are or had an overwhelming emotional impact. These times might include falling in love—and realizing that love is requited. It might be the birth of a child, when everything else becomes a lower priority. It may be a professional breakthrough when your work starts to make a meaningful impact. Whatever it is, the moment in time can be magical, something outside of the realm of the everyday.

October 25, 2025September 8, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Existential Fatigue—Finding Meaning Amidst the Carnage

I have trouble reading the news these days. I know I have to, and I do, but the overwhelming sense of rage, disappointment, disbelief, and despair takes its toll, and I am mentally and emotionally exhausted. The meaning and fulfillment I get from activities that nourish my soul have diminished during these extraordinary times, which increases my sadness and anger. I soldier on, knowing that these activities do help, and I lean on my belief that the direction of the country will swing again toward compassion and wisdom. But in the meantime, my existential fatigue is something I have to address. Like a medical condition, it’s something I have to take seriously and take steps to mitigate its effects.

November 9, 2024October 3, 2024 by Pete Wiley

What are you thinking?—How to Direct Your Thoughts

What are you thinking about… right now?

It’s a simple question, but it’s so important. Our thoughts are the content of our consciousness. They are how we process the world and our experiences. We can choose our thoughts, but only to a certain extent. Errant thoughts will always arise, and some will be unpleasant and unwelcome. Some thoughts may cause worry, sadness, or anger. The relationship between our thoughts and our emotions is direct and often uncontrollable. However, with focus and practice, we can better control our thoughts and the emotions they stir.

in Emotions / Mindful 0 comments

August 5, 2023April 27, 2023 by Pete Wiley

Pillars of Life—The Importance of Engaging Mind, Body, and Spirit

As we move through our days, we may live active, productive, and even meaningful lives. But something may still be missing. It may be hard to put our fingers on it. One possible reason for this is the failure to be intentional about fundamental aspects of our lives—mind, body, and spirit—the three pillars of life. Most of us engage with these pillars to some degree: we exercise, we challenge ourselves mentally, or we have healthy spiritual lives. But how many of us consistently engage with all three pillars intentionally and regularly? When we do, we’ll find that our lives are enhanced—in ways that we may not even realize.

in Emotions / Mindful 0 comments

Inner-Dialogue. Woman engaged in positive self-talk.

December 21, 2019March 24, 2019 by Pete Wiley

Inner Peace—Calming and Directing your Inner Dialogue

What does your inner dialogue sound like?

Are your inner thoughts calm, supportive, and helpful, or do you have a lot of negative self-talk? Is your inner dialogue a never-ending stream, or are you able to control it?

For many people, errant thoughts pop into their heads when they least want them to or when they’re doing something that requires intense focus. Try as we might to concentrate, our minds wander. The nature of our thoughts is also important. Some people have a stream of positive encouragement or affirmations: “You’ve got this!” “Come on, just one more strong hour!” Others have a never-ending flow of negative self-talk: “Idiot! What are you thinking?!” We need to pay attention to both the amount of inner dialogue we have and its nature.

in Mindful / Proactive 0 comments