Finding unity—being able to hold opposites—is the true magic behind living in peace. So, finding our inner sovereignty is only half the story.w3
This chapter takes a closer look at resistance—not as something random or stubborn for no reason, but as something rooted in how we’ve learned to see the world.
It starts with the limits of the ego, which tends to think in black-and-white terms: I’m right or you’re right. That kind of thinking can’t hold the full picture, so when things get complex or uncertain, we tighten up and resist.
What’s interesting is how resistance isn’t all bad. At its core, it connects to something healthy—our drive for autonomy and self-expression. But when it’s out of balance, especially when paired with old, unresolved reactions to authority, it can show up as either rebellion or over-compliance. Neither one really works.
The deeper shift comes from learning to hold both sides at once—standing in our own truth while also staying open to something bigger than ourselves. That requires moving beyond surface-level reactions and looking at what’s underneath them.
The chapter lands on a practical insight: resistance isn’t the enemy. It’s a signal. And if we’re willing to follow it inward, it can lead us to the exact place where real change is possible.
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.
