At the time I felt the best way to help others would be to provide the information, that I had taken the time, effort and money to acquire, in easy to digest posts for free. Why should lack of money separate someone from the crucial bit of knowledge they need to succeed?
Over time my opinion on that changed. Part of that was from my own investment of a large sum of money to get a Life Coach to radically change my life. I had the coaching for a year, and while I discovered many things, two of the primary lessons I learned from that was: A) That I already knew pretty much everything there was to know about self help. I wasn't being told anything I didn't already know (aside for some insight into my own psyche) B) That KNOWING ISN'T ENOUGH. Despite KNOWING what to do, I still hadn't changed my life. What got me to start doing a lot of the things I knew, putting principals into actual daily consistent practice was the fact that I had spent the equivalent of a used car (money I couldn't afford and didn't have) to get this coaching and I was determined to get my money's worth (and hopefully turn my life around enough to re-coop that money).
If you are a long time reader, you'll know Life Coaching didn't provide the breakthroughs I so desperately sought. Those came from giving my life over to Christ and that was far more transformational than anything man could teach.
This made me view the blog very differently. Posting free information, no matter how good, how potentially life altering it was, wasn't doing my readers any good. They loved to read it, occasionally thank me for it or commented on it but because it they had gotten it without effort, they didn't actually apply it in any real meaningful way. They gave it the same value as they paid to get it. Virtually none. Plus, complete self-reliance is fundamentally flawed. A sick mind can't heal itself. God needed to be brought into the picture.
Nor was the blog doing me any good. It had been semi-therapeutic to write at first and a good practice to help maintain the knowledge I'd learn but it was still an investment of time that benefited me not at all. Knowing I was helping people had been payment enough, but once I felt I was actually short-changing them by reducing the value of the information to nothing, there was no incentive to continue.
My own transformation had also caused me to go away from some of the new-age stuff I had originally blogged on and become more Christ-centred and centric but I didn't feel biblically schooled enough to teach a Christian path. Nor did I want to exclude non-Christians from the truth. Or perhaps more accurately, I didn't want them to exclude themselves if I spoke of Christ.
So where am I now...?
My desire to give back has returned but now with more of a renewed sense of direction.
I am happy to share information freely but at the same time realize that some things must be earned in order to have value.
I am content and confident in my Christian walk enough to share it openly but I do not seek (nor will I bother too) preach to the choir. This blog is more for people who are desperately seeking to improve their life and are at least open to listening to how Christ - plus many practical do-it-yourself methods - can make a difference for them as it has for me and countless others.
I will review and occasionally endorse self help products, books, coaching etc from a Christian perspective. In time I intent to create some of my own. And yes, expect to pay for quality life enhancing products. As I said, some things must be earned. And I might indeed make a percentage of proceeds should you buy a reviewed product through my site. So in advance I thank you for choosing to pour back into my life by making such a purchase. I pledge to make and provide information on the very best products I can find that I TRULY feel will help, or could help if properly applied, my readers to make some changes in their lives. I will be trying each one out myself and will give a thorough, frank and honest assessment and let you know if it's right for you. Some things may be right for some folks but not others. If I see something that I feel is a scam, or hurtful or not-in-line with Christian principals I will alert you to that too.
I hope to make the site a lot more social and more open with lots of discussion. I fully expect people to ask questions about God. Or my thoughts on things like 'The Secret'. I expect some challenges. I welcome them. And I expect my Christian readers to welcome them as well. For if someone is coming to me and challenging God, then that means they are seeking answers. They may not yet be ready to actually receive them, but hopefully something I or another says will plant a seed that slowly takes root and in time flowers into a more abundant life for them. I have seen a great many people who were 'lost' and 'beyond help' be restored by God and become some of the most valuable members of society. We are all His children and He loves us all. It's only a matter of if you are open to receiving that love. Even some people in the church struggle with this.
I do not know everything and this will be as much as a learning experience for me as it is for others. I will be seeking answers and knowledge from those further ahead in life and in spirit than I (and from God, the bible, etc) and in turn, passing that on to those people who are still where I myself have been - struggling, broke, lonely, confused, frustrated, depressed, anxious, addicted and emotional bankrupt. I had endured them all for longer than I care to think about. Now I am on the other side. I am at peace, confident, loved, determined, breaking new ground and learning to live a life of excellence. If you are here with me, link arms and help me, if you are struggling to get to this point - keep coming back. We love you, and we (I) am committed to help you along your path.
In accordance with all this, look for a lot of changes to be happening to this site. I'll be moving it from Blogger to WordPress.org to have more flexibility. Changing the look and feel of the site. Doing more reviews, interviews, and working with others to bring my readers the very best I can. TheCupHalfFull will fulfill it's original design and become more social, having a Facebook site and forum - living up to it's tagline 'Inspiring Conversations'. In short - I'm not playing. I intent to make this site the very best I can, meaningful, impactful, inspiring, and inviting. I place I can live, figuratively and literally in a financial sense - so I can give this site the full time attention it deserves. A place you'll want to come back to day after day to learn more, be more and do more. A fellowship of people all committed to help one another grow. And an introduction to Christ, who He is and why you should seek Him to help you in your journey.
Every journey begins with a single step.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
Whether you've been visiting this blog for years or just discovering us now, sound off in the comments below and let me know how you feel about this new direction.
Loving Regards,
Preston Squire
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