This blog has been down (in more ways than one).
Last week, Life Coaches Blog’s server on Site5 broke down and we became inaccessible for a few days. To their credit, Site5 has apologized and given half a year’s worth of free hosting for all sites that were affected.
While that was going on, I was in Shanghai for a working trip and couldn’t be online to check for updates. Thanks to all my friends who messaged me to ask about what happened to Life Coaches Blog, I appreciate it.
My life’s been shifting the last few months, as I found myself feeling dissatisfied and thoughtful. Questions like; what’s really important to me? with the limited time and energy I have left on this planet, what do I want to commit it to? and ; what would make me happier? ran through my head.
The more I thought about it, the more Life Coaches Blog came up short. I don’t hate it, I don’t want to give it up completely, and I never want to stop growing. But LcB has been growing more irrelevant to me and I can’t deny it.
In the past, I could devote many hours to LcB, but I no longer want to. Instead of rushing to cram everything into my schedule, I want to have time to read, to spend with my loved ones, to recharge. Instead of staying busy all the time, wishing there was more time to do what I wanted, I want to do less things, so I can do the things that really matter to me.
And more importantly, I want to talk less about personal growth, and do more personal growing.
Personal development has become a sort-of pseudo-philosophy for the modern age. While it promises to explain everything in x number of easy steps, not everything can be easily explained, and not a single soul has all the answers.
I can’t tell you for sure why I feel this need to streamline my life, to drop the mundane and some not-so-mundane things to free up my time and energy, why I feel this need to release and let go of more commitments and take on less. I can’t explain it to you, but in my gut I feel it, and I feel it is for the best.
What Would Make You Happier?
This really wouldn’t be a Life Coaches Blog post if there wasn’t some life coaching, would it? 
If streamlining your life sounds like something you’d like to do, here are some suggestions that might help you along the way.
1. Clarify Your Values
What’s important to you in your life right now? Your family, your career or your health? Somewhere down the line, there’s going to be conflict, so the clearer you are about your values the easier it’ll be for you to make the judgment call on what to sacrifice.
2. Declutter Your Life
Are there old commitments dragging you down? It can be anything; old clothes, old appointments, that call you should have made ages ago. Close the loop if it’s still relevant, if not decide to let it go once and for all.
3. What Would Make You Happier?
It’s more useful to think of happiness as a continuum you travel along rather than a fixed point to be reached and stopped at. If you’re stuck for choice between hanging on to something and letting it go, ask yourself which choice would make you happier. Don’t confuse this with the question of which would give you more pleasure, but instead which choice would give you more pleasure and meaning now and in the future.
Life Coaches Blog will Go On
Despite what it may sound like, Life Coaches Blog will go on, but at a slower pace from before. From the experience of the last few posts this seems to have the effect of creating more well-thought out articles, as I now only write about what I really, really want to write about.
So it’s a win-win situation, you win because you get to read better articles, and I win because I have time to go live my life
See you soon.
Taking the time to be. Absolutely adorable photo by tanakawho.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:24 am
i must first of all commend you on the good work form your blog..life coach…i somewhat agree with your perception about life …that you win some and lose some. life is about doing your best and making sure that it counts when it matters most…
April 26th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Years ago after 8 years of 12 Step meetings, I decided it was time to stop going to meetings and time to take steps to start living what I had learned in my personal life. Like you, my posting schedule has slowed down on my blog. I was posting every Sunday and Wednesday. That has changed recently. I now write when I have something of importance to write about. I don’t write just to be doing a post. If it isn’t meaningful to me, I don’t do it. This seems to be happening across the web. I have several blogger friends who have stopped blogging all together over the past few months. I am glad you have just decided to slow down instead. Have a glorious day.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:00 am
I thought I would share a recent discovery I made about a brand new film that really helped me and several of my clients. the film is being called by many as the sequel to “The Secret” But in my opinion it far surpasses the secret in many ways. The film I am refering to is The Opus (www.TheOpusMovie.com) it features many of the cast from the original secret, people like Jack canfield, Joe Vitale, John demartini, Marci Shimoff, Morris Goodman and Bob doyle. But it also features many new comers like Mark Victor Hansen, Douglas Vermeeren and Bill Bartmann. The film is really well done and has so much useful information. Normally, I don’t get too involved with blogging but this is a film I think will make a big difference for a lot of people. check it out and share your thoughts…
April 27th, 2008 at 6:55 am
This is the most honest blog post I’ve ever read in this genre. More power to you! Life is meant to be lived.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
EXCELLENT post! Declutter Your Life…that is a never ending battle when you’ve got a family of four and something i struggle with. I’m glad i discovered this site!
April 27th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Hi! Alvin,
All of us will come to a stage in our lives where we need to re-evaluate ourselfs.
I often ask myself this question:
1. What do I really want in life?
2. What do I want to get out of it?
3. What are my core values?
When I am able to asnwer it, I will work towards it. I will also need to align my core values and once I am done, things will be out into perspective.
Cheers!
June 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I have just started blogging and have really enjoyed the articles. Life is about making trade-offs which is not a negative no matter what others say. I don’t see that as problem but as a positive. I have choices and am more in contro of my life. I applaud your decision and look forward to the less frequent but more impacful aricles.
Thank you for your insight.
Bill
July 11th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Alvin,
Thank you so much for such a wonderful article. I have never blogged before and just happened to be online looking for something inspiring. At this moment I find myself very confused and have lost my direction in life. I went from being an independent career minded young girl to a confused; don’t know what to do with my life girl. When did I loose my path? I left my very busy life and decided to form a family. Things did not work out, and after having a baby I got a divorce. I thank god for my beautiful daughter! Now, after months of suffering I’m back with my parents. They no longer see me as the smart young girl I was. They have always expected so much from me. I’m supposed to be a big role model to my brothers. I’m suppose to be the lawyer, career which I did not finished due to getting marry and giving that marriage my all. Yes. I do have a job and make great money, but I need to move on and don’t know where to start. I have to go back and move out of the parent’s house with my baby and make it on my own. Now, in what order can I do this? My career is important, but my little girl is more. How can I choose to do the right thing for my baby? I have to become the best for her. But how much quality times will this cost me? Where do I begin? Alvin, your article has helped me prioritize what is really important in life. I hope you continue to write because I really need your guidance. Even if you write less, if the articles are going to be as helpful as this one, it’s wonderful. Thank you, thank you very much.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am
You’re very, very welcome Yissel
A phrase that’s always helped me go through the challenging times is to remember that ‘the past doesn’t equal the future‘. Thanks for sharing your story, and may you be well.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Douglas Vermeeren, The Creator of THE OPUS and consider by most to be North america’s foremost Achievement expert is coming to Canada and selected US cities with his seminar http://www.MaximumResultsTraining.com If you have never been to an event with him you may want to check it out. He is considered by many to be the Napoleon Hill of our day.
There are special rates for those involved in life or business coaching.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Does anyone know if Douglas Vermeeren has officially launched the Top Achiever’s Circle coaching program yet? And how can I get involved as a Top Achiever’s Circle coach?