Both the winner and loser resent in the other what they fear and fight in themselves—their hidden tendency to be like the other.
Opposite approaches, same poor result
The Pathwork Guide challenges the common belief that life is a battle between winning and losing, exposing it as a false and limiting duality.
In this distorted view, being a “winner” means being selfish and ruthless, while being a “loser” means being self-sacrificing and good. Both paths are rooted in fear and lead to the same outcome: frustration, inner conflict, and disconnection.
The truth is that we do not need to choose between self-assertion and kindness. Real fulfillment comes from recognizing that we can pursue our own happiness without harming others, dissolving the illusion that life must be a zero-sum game.
Going deeper, the chapter reveals how true creation arises from a balance between our own conscious intentions and the universal creative forces within us.
Like a gardener preparing the soil, our role is to clarify our desires, remove inner obstacles, and align with truth—while allowing life’s natural processes to unfold.
When we hold contradictory beliefs, fear happiness, or unconsciously resist what we say we want, we block this creative flow. But when we become clear, relaxed, and aligned in our desires, we activate a powerful partnership between self and creation.
From this balance emerges a life of greater harmony, purpose, and possibility—where fulfillment is not forced, but allowed to grow.
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.
