Spring 2022 Issue

T RO Y BYER

"The day we accept that what happened to us actually happened for us, is the day we graduate from surviving as Victims of life to thriving as Victors of life." Dr Troy

.

.

The Life Of Dr Troy

by Tony Smith

In our last issue, we did a feature on Jazette Lane English and her Wellness Summit in Washington DC. On the dais for the summit was Dr Troy Byer. At Jazette's suggestion, I reached out to Troy and asked if she would like to discuss being featured in our magazine. After reading our links and previous issues, she first gave us major kudos and said she'd be honored to be featured. What follows is a revealing chronicle of her life and times. I call it a story of reconciliation, redemption and finally, purpose.

Here is the powerful Q&A with Dr Troy Byer

Q & A

Q. What are a couple of your fondest childhood m em ories? One t hat ?s heart w arm ing and one w here you w ere just a silly lit t le kid?

A. Other than being on Sesame Street, I had a very traumatic childhood. I was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused by my mother and her boyfriend. By the age of eleven, my mother had locked in arrangements to sell me to a 45-year-old man in exchange for a washing machine and a dryer - that was the dowry. Thank God Child Protective Services took me away from her and placed me in foster care before the ceremonial exchange happened. I lived in foster care until the courts located my biological father.

At the age of twelve, I moved from NYC to Idaho to live with my dad and his family. Unfortunately, in many ways, he was worse than my mother in terms of abuse. He tried to auction my virginity off to his friends. So, really, I jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Still, I assert, my parents were my greatest teachers. They gave me a front row view of everything I did not want for myself in this life. The pristine clarity has been priceless. Again, being on Sesame Street was truly the highlight of my childhood.

Ironically, my brother and I Landed the role on Sesame Street because our next-door neighbor was Alvin Ailey, and he had his finger on the pulse of what was happening in terms of production in New York City. When he heard about Sesame Street, he said to my welfare recipient mom Why don't you take your kids to audition for the show so they may get the job. My brother immediately was cast for the show, and I had to go back because during my first audition I was terrified of Big Bird because he was half man and half bird and that was very confusing to me at the time. I went back a second time. I proved that I wasn't afraid of Big Bird and that was the beginning of my acting career which began at the ripe age of 4.

The other highlight was spending time at my grandmother's house in the Bronx. My aunts and cousins were my best friends and we loved each other immensely. I also enjoyed hanging out with my next-door neighbor/babysitter who was then named Karen Johnson but today we know her as Whoopi Goldberg

One of my least favorite highlights was also the fact that the Wayans brothers also lived in the Chelsea projects and their father Mr. Wayans would teach us bible lessons once per week - he was Jehovah?s witness, and my mother was convinced my brother and I were possessed so every week we had that little pink Bible in our hand as Mr. Wayans led the lessons.

Q. Do you have childhood friends t hat you?re st ill in t ouch w it h?

A. Yes and no. Until five years ago, I had remained best friends with a girl that was 6 months older than me. We had been friends since I was birth - seriously. Our mothers were close. But about five years ago she explained to me that she was only still my friend through the grace of God, so I gracefully dismissed her from my life and never looked back. I believe people come into our lives for reasons, seasons, and lifetimes. Her seasons were complete As for other Life timers, I am still very close to the ladies I met and befriended the summer before 8th grade - when I moved to Idaho. I don?t have a lot of new friends. Most of my friends are friends that I've had for a minimum of 10 years. I understand the value of finding a human being that is worthy of my love and the sentiment is reciprocated.

I do not take my empowering relationships for granted - at all. I am also very selective when it comes to making new friends or allowing new energy into my space.

Q. What w as t he genesis of Mindology?

A. As a child I did a lot of crying and I remember thinking that one day I'm going to find a way to stop myself from crying before someone calls me a crybaby yet again. But what I was really saying is that I want to find a way to regulate my unwanted emotions. And that's what Mindology Fitness is all about - it's about finding organic ways to regulate unwanted emotions such as sadness, anger, depression and so much more

While I was in grad school, I was very mindful about collecting data that involved the use of neuroplasticity, neuroscience and other ways to alter conscious behavior using the subconscious mind. So, today Mindology Fitness is a fitness program that is designed to give you the tools you need to ensure your peace of mind is always in your hands.

Q. Was t here a sem inal m om ent t hat ignit ed you desire t o change career pat hs?

A. Yes, when I was 42 years old, I had what Carl Jung refers to as the Dark Night of the Soul. It was on my birthday, and I had this incredible meltdown because I realized that at 42, I was still waiting for a casting director, a production company or studio to validate my existence as an actress, director or a writer. I felt like I had no control over my destiny in terms of my professional or financial wealth. I was also in a relationship with someone I was in no way proud to be with.

As I sat on the floor sobbing, I knew I had to get up and do something or just plan on staying down and depressed forever. My sister and my assistant showed up to take me out to dinner and was inconsolable. They were horrified to see me in that condition. They tried to help me get it together, but I knew had to ride it out and feel the pain. I felt as if I was in spiritual labor.

I was giving birth to the new me. The next morning, I registered for college, and I declared that I was going to earn a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and I was then going to make a huge difference in the mental health industry. I sacrificed many life pleasures to fulfill that commitment. But I did it and now - I validate my own existence. I have complete control over my professional and financial success.

Q. How did your experiences in ent ert ainm ent help shape your m ission for Mindology?

A. My experiences in the entertainment industry help shape my mission ONLY in the sense that I know how to produce quality videos and I know how to create great content.

Q. What st ruggles present ed t hem selves as you built your business?

A. None really. My only real challenge is marketing I need to hire a marketing team for sure.

Q. What joys com e from doing w hat you love?

The joy I experience comes from knowing that I do what I do because my currency is the feeling I get, knowing that I am fulfilling my passion. I love that what I do makes a difference for others, and it makes a difference in terms of the amazing relationship I get to have with myself. Every day before I open my eyes, I declare clear who I AM and what I intend to give the planet that day.

I have a very powerful relationship with my higher Self and God, And, I know that the gifts that flow through me are expressions of God - I?m just blessed enough to be a vessel.

So the joy that comes from loving what I do just brings me closer to God and there is no greater feeling in the world to me than being close to God.

Q. How or have your priorit ies changed?

I don?t allow anyone to waste my time. I don?t waste anyone?s time. Time is the one commodity that you can?t get back. When it?s gone, it?s gone.

This reality hit me when we pushed my grandmother's casket into the wall and I remember thinking, ?oh my God, what if she has one more thing, she wants to say to me or someone else!? I then remember thinking, ?it?s too late. Time up. Game over. She is absolutely 100% all out of time.? And there's just so much I need to do and say before I run out of time. I don't waste time. I waste money sometimes, but I never waste time.

Q. What new project s of yours are you excit ed about ?

A. I am VP of Social Impact for a billion-dollar NFT company. My job is to give a percentage of our company?s earnings to charities my team and I deem worthy.

I am also in the beginning stages of building Mindology Centers across the country. The centers will be ?gyms? for the mind. You go to Planet Fitness to work out your body. You got to Mindology Fitness to work out your mind.

I also have a reality show in the works that will allow me to help people find peace during challenging times.

Q. As you em bark on t he next chapt er of your life, w hat are m ost looking forw ard t o?

Funding charities, expanding Mindology Fitness Centers, healing hearts, and getting married to my beautiful, amazing life partner.