Hidden Gems: Meet James Patrick

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Patrick.

Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in NY with that fast-paced east coast mentality and surrounded by people who constantly lit my fire and pushed me to be my best on a daily basis while still remaining humble and grounded in how I was showing up in this human experience. For most of my life, I have always been the one to come to for an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and advice for pretty much anything. Complete strangers would share their life story with me within minutes of meeting because there was “just something about me.” I had a natural ability to empower people and make them feel good about themselves and their potential. For me, that’s what it’s really about. Tapping into that fire within and getting others to see their value and what they can do to create a life of their own design. I learned early on that “there are no extras” in this life. What I needed to learn most however, was how to be there for others and not sacrifice myself in the process or define my own value by what I did for others. I was young but knew I had a purpose and a greater calling.

I moved to AZ in 2001 after the September 11th attacks, which was a defining moment in my life as it was for many others. There had been many reasons leading up to a needed change and then, that was the catalyst which allowed me to say goodbye to the east coast along with everything and everyone I’d known. I followed my purposeful path and found the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts to earn a degree in Mind/Body Transformational Psychology specializing in Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Spiritual Studies and Yoga Teacher Training. I then continued to get my Personal Training education through NASM. I traveled to Dallas in 2019 to get certified as a Firewalking Instructor through the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education. Finally, this year, I am training to be board certified as a Health & Wellness Coach through NBHWC. I found the balance I needed and the empowerment tools to truly make a difference in people’s lives. Motivational speaking is a love of mine and I’m blessed every day to get to do the work I do as a Lifestyle Trainer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting over someplace new is always a risk and I chose to move clear across the country to challenge myself. Along the way, I would often doubt myself and wonder what the heck I was doing? I would question if the path I was on was truly my own. Was it more about personal development to heal the parts of my life that needed it most? Was this truly a calling that I was meant to answer? I didn’t always value myself the way that I valued others. I was in relationships that would sometimes make me feel “less than.” So, I would play small out of fear of not wanting to believe in or take ownership that I have skills, gifts and talents. Some of the friends I had were not the best influence and would often drag me back into the “herd” whenever I desired to try more, do more, be more. I w0uld watch my mentors like Tony Robbins, Oprah, Dr. Wayne Dyer and think to myself, “what gives me the right?” as I would reflect on that well-known Marianne Williamson quote that says, “It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” Was I worthy?

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
James Patrick Lifestyle Training was born in 2008 while attending the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, whom I work and contract with. I am truly blessed to have both worlds that I thrive in be within the same industry, so I can be of service to others. My motto/trademark is, “Make SHIFT Happen.” I am a Lifestyle Trainer and motivational presenter with a mission to fuel passion, expose purpose and motivate actions that inspire a new way to be through interactive coaching and personal training from the inside out. I live for introducing others to the next best version of themselves. The thing that separates me from others is that I start working with people who have poor organization or time investment skills first to create systems and routines in their life so they can be more efficient in their personal and professional lives. Once those systems exist, then we can focus on the first steps needed to move towards their desired goals and outcomes. Too many times, the vision of something more is expressed and the plan doesn’t work because they haven’t looked at all the factors that are needed to get to the point where they can begin in the first place. The steps they take are supported by realistic expectations to work with their everyday “life happenings” and a partnership of accountability so they never feel overwhelmed or that the life they are designing is ever unattainable. It’s about a life of fulfillment over simply success. It’s about sustainability. If I can’t create value in someone’s life while I’m creating value in my own, then I haven’t done my job.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
“Life happens” and I get to choose the value I give to what happens when it does. I can live from a space of imprisonment or empowerment. Everything has a “blesson” within it if I choose to see it, extract it and learn from it. It may not always feel the greatest and things may not always work out as planned, but there is always something to gain. Within those experiences and opportunities, I may find something better than anything I could have planned for.

Contact Info:

• Email: lifestyletrainerjp@gmail.com
• Website: www.jamespatrickaz.com
• Instagram: @lifestyletrainerjp
• Facebook: facebook.com/jamespatrickaz/

Image Credits
Steven Jeffers Photography, Alex Campos, Leaked Glass Photography