Come on in! The lava's fine!

So, I just had a coaching call today. And I was fired up! I had a practice session with my sister, so we could practice a little bit and get started moving forward.

I had also signed up for a group online where I could practice coaching and getting used to the program. Little did I know that while my coach was praising me for the achievements I'd made in the last two weeks, she would ask me now to expand my coaching practice. "You want me to post about this on facebook?!?" heheheh... I don't know about that.

A little background: As a kid growing up I had a bit of trouble making friends, partially due to the fact I attended 5 schools between 5th and 8th grade, partially because we moved from my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan to the wild west of Texas, but mostly because I was pretty quiet. I got beat up a few times. around the time I entered high school I got a hold of the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Of course this was a revolutionary title, and from that moment on I decided I would do whatever it took to win friends, and influence people to a point. This became the armor that allowed me to grow as a social human being. Working to say the right things, wear the right clothes, find the right people etc. I was so scared at times to be myself that I created what I thought was the perfect persona. Even more than that, I wished to hide anything that would take away from that. This mindset caused me to sometimes eschew what I wanted personally for what I thought would "look good" to people around me. It became a obsession, one that partially hasn't changed over a decade. (I'm just coming to terms with this right now)

So for my coach to ask me to post something that I cared about on line, basically to say that I was starting a personal coaching and development practice made me feel like she was asking me to take a trip to Mordor and casually take a dip in the flaming hot magma of Mt. Doom. It scared the shit outta me.

One, I really don't like asking for things that I want to build on my own, and two, I couldn't tell my friends about this could I? I don't feel ready! I need to read at least 30,000 more books, go to 20 seminars, become a tibetan monk for 5 years, then study under Mr. Miyagi  before I'm ready!  There's got to be a different way.

But part of me knows I have to move forward. I have to. To stay where I am is not an option. Yesterday, after visiting with my Great Godparents, I thought a lot about life. in 15 years I'm going to be 42. That scares the crap outta me too. If I'm anywhere near where I am today, I'd feel like I was a failure. At the same time I still have that voice in the back of my head reminding me of every screwup, misstep, or buttfumble from the last 5 years, and sometimes more!

So now my challenge is to move forward. That's all I can do. I can talk to people, I can coach myself up, it doesn't matter. I just need. to. move. forward. Even if its sending personal messages to friends & family.


Okay. That's what I've got for today all. I'll find a way through this.

On the path of thought

Hello All,

Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Trey Sparks. I'm on a journey to become the best version of myself. For the time being that means learning about the personal coaching field and moving to a place where I myself am a coach. My journey down the rabbit hole of personal development started many years ago when I discovered a book in High School named "How to win friends and influence people" It was a great book that helped a very shy, very quiet tween start to develop his own voice. The path has taken me through the church, high school, being a very black male in very white surroundings, overcoming the pain of my parent's divorce etc,  all the way to finishing a master's degree, traveling to 10 countries (it's a start right?) and ultimately to a job where I get to travel for a living. Now it has brought me here. What I aim to do is to track my progress, report the successes and failures, and ultimately share the story of one person on a path to realizing his dreams.

Some people come across their dreams early in life. Some people find their "calling" through a traditional route like college or vocational school. Some people don't find a calling at all. Some people find their purpose through volunteering; working only to support their goals. As someone who believed wholeheartedly in the educational system, I had a revelation not to long ago which basically stated "Just because you didn't major in it, doesn't mean you can't do it." It took me two degrees to figure that little gem out. go me. The point is we all experience the journey differently. My goal through all of this is to make sure I'm not walking in circles for the next 70 years of my life. Hopefully I can inspire you to take a journey as well.

Bertrand Russell is attributed to the quote "Some people would rather die than think, and many of them do."

Let's jump into the deep end and see how the water feels.

TODAY!

Today is a new day my friends. Today is the place where we have the most power. It where we can decide to make a decision that will change the path of your life. Today is also where you can continue to take the steps toward your own success.

Remember those new years resolutions?

Get back on track with them.

Remember that workout you promised you'd do?

Right now is the best time to start.

Remember the people that loved and raised you? Or those who impacted your life in a major way?

Today is the day to show gratitude.


There is so much power in today. So many times we give it away to work stress, mindless TV, or general negativity in life. (trust me go look at your Facebook and tell me if it raises you up or brings you down)

Action: Make a list of the three best things that you can do TODAY to make your life better. Don't stop until they are complete.

Mine today are to 1. go for a 5 mile run 2. Call my great god parents (who played a significant part in my life) 3. E-mail a professor of mine to thank him for his guidance.

This is a short one because today is a day of action.

Live Excellent.