If we do this work of self-transformation, our many life stories will begin to have better endings.
This chapter takes a bigger, almost mythic view of the inner journey, connecting personal growth with a larger story about where we come from and why we’re here. At its core is a simple but far-reaching idea: finding ourselves and finding God are essentially the same process.
And the only way to do that is by looking within.
It builds out a sweeping narrative—from creation and the “Fall” into separation, to the present moment where we’re working our way back. But instead of leaving it as a distant story, it brings everything back to something practical: the state of our own psyche.
The conflicts, patterns, and reactions we experience aren’t random—they reflect what’s still unresolved inside us.
There’s also a strong thread about free will. We’re not forced in any direction; we’re constantly choosing—toward alignment or further disconnection. And those choices shape the “story” of our lives in real time.
What lands most clearly is the responsibility and possibility wrapped together here. If our life reflects what’s inside us, then change doesn’t start out there.
It starts by turning inward and being willing to see what’s true.
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.
