16 How pleasure gets twisted into self-perpetuating cycles of pain
Bones
16 How pleasure gets twisted into self-perpetuating cycles of pain
/
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed
We must see that negativity is only a temporary reality. It will eventually grind us to a halt as it takes us to our knees.
The Pathwork Guide reveals a surprising truth: pain is not simply caused by life’s hardships, but by inner conflict—specifically, when opposing forces within us pull in different directions. One part of us moves toward growth, love, and fulfillment, while another unconsciously resists these same outcomes.
The tension between these forces is what creates suffering.
The Guide explains that this resistance stems from hidden “negative desires”—parts of us that, for various reasons, push against what we consciously want. When these remain unconscious, we feel like victims of life. But as awareness grows, we begin to see our role in creating our experiences, which restores a sense of inner power.
A key insight is how we unknowingly attach pleasure to our negative patterns. This “negative pleasure principle” makes destructive behaviors feel strangely satisfying, which is why they persist—even when they cause pain.
In relationships, this dynamic becomes especially complex, as two people’s conflicting patterns interact and reinforce each other.
Healing begins by recognizing and accepting these inner contradictions without denial or self-punishment. As we bring hidden resistance into awareness and release our attachment to negative pleasure, the inner conflict dissolves.
Ultimately, freedom from pain doesn’t come from controlling life—but from understanding and transforming the forces within us.
Jill Loree is the founder of Phoenesse and a longtime student of the Pathwork teachings. She has studied the Pathwork Guide’s material since 1997 and completed four years of training to become a certified Pathwork Helper.
When she first encountered the Pathwork teachings, she described the experience as “walking through the doorway of an AA fourth step and finding the whole library.”
Through Phoenesse, Jill writes and teaches about personal transformation using the spiritual psychology found in the Pathwork lectures.
Her books present these teachings in clear, accessible language to help readers apply them in everyday life. Her work focuses on helping people move from the struggles of duality toward the peace of inner unity.
Raised in northern Wisconsin, Jill began her professional career in technical sales and marketing before discovering that her true calling lay in spiritual teaching and writing.
She lives in New York with her husband, Scott Wisler, who now works with her in sharing these teachings around the world.
