Friday, October 23, 2009

Miracle of Love:

Our Journey with Overcomers, Inc.
Lalei E. Gutierrez and Philip R. Belzunce

When we were invited by Lynne Klippel to contribute each of our chapters to the newly published book, Overcomers, Inc.: True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration, we had no idea what was in store for us! We never thought we would embark into yet another process of overcoming. This had been for us an exciting, reflective, opening, co-creating and celebrative experience. All this has happened for us at the same time we have been writing our e-book -- The Ten Pathways of Healing Love: a Journey of Transformation.

During this time of writing, we have found ourselves reviewing our personal life journeys and our relationship journey as a couple. We have also been exploring and reflecting on the evolution of humanity's consciousness and spirituality evolution --the relationships between people, communities, cultures and countries.

We stand in awe of the mysteries and miracles of life. We are astounded at the polarities of experiences, as well as, the adversities and challenges that have led us into amazing discoveries, learning, and growth. We are honored to contribute to the heart-mind-spirit of our world.

Now, more than ever, we are feeling the shifts in consciousness, inviting us into open fields of conversation, sharing and connection.

We are finding that courage is no longer a lonely and secret process, where one blazes through a treacherous trail to survive, to seek one’s higher purpose, to reclaim one’s health, soul or spirit, and/or to answer a call of grace. Courage or lack of it is no longer a virtue to be affirmed upon a person’s demise.

What has stood out for us the most when reading all of the stories in Overcomers is the courage it takes to share one’s story. Did you know that the root of the word COURAGE in French comes from “couer” which means heart?

We all know that it takes heart to have courage. Let’s look at what courage really means.

C - Challenge or Crisis occurs when human beings have some kind of
challenge or crisis caused by either an internal or an external situation or
event.
O – Obstacles will be experienced including feelings of fear, shame,
rejection,criticism.
U – In their Uncertainty they will Uncover an Underlying
mystery.
R – Risk, Resources, Reflection and a Review of patterned
Reactions will occur.
A – Abilities (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual) will be unearthed.
G – Grace will be Given through others kindness, support,
synchronicities, and the unexpected.
E - Exploring new horizons and the Embracing of new discoveries
appears.


Such courage, propelled by HOPE, inspires others (38 authors stories) to know that through it all, one has to:

• Let go,
• Surrender to the moment,
• Seek and find,
• Listen to one’s intuition,
• Answer to the call of their heart,
• Breathe,
• Trust,
• Believe,
• Reclaim oneself, and
• Let God do the driving.

We honor all our amazing co-authors that we have joined together with in this project and process. Though we may not know each other in person, we have all connected with the global HEART call and have been brought together for a Higher Purpose.

Together, we co-created with COURAGE to LOVE.

Overcomers is chock full of stories of hope, courage and inspiration. We see this book as an example of co-creating in the higher purpose of Healing Love, to inspire everyone to know that adversity can be overcome and transformed.

With Love and Gratitude,
Lalei and Phil


To Purchase Overcomers, Inc., True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration (from Amazon) and to claim nearly 100 free gifts from noted transformational leaders such as Wayne Dyer, Christine Kloser, Chris and Janet Atwood and more . please visit: http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch for more information.

Overcomer's Inc: 3 Book Reviews/endorsements

“Overcomers, Inc. crosses all borders of life. It doesn't matter where you live, the color of your skin, or the state of your physical health. There are times when life throws you a curve ball and you feel all alone. Overcomers, Inc. is your companion during those tough times. Reading these stories will inspire you and offer you hope - hope that you'll overcome your tough time in life. This is one of those books I strongly recommend to all my patients.” ~ Dr. Michael Kaye, DrMichaelKaye.com.

“Overcomers, Inc. is an eminently readable series of true tales, written by people of all ages and backgrounds. All have confronted adversity in one form or another and prevailed. While deceptively simple, this volume contains deep truths about how to rise above calamity, seeing the good instead of the bad, maintaining hope despite despair, and recognizing that gratitude and forgiveness are truly empowering. Read this book! You will not only enjoy it, but will find yourself empowered to go beyond some crushing realities which hold you down or bring you low. These tales, depicting the impact of faith in God’s goodness, coupled with a belief in one’s innate human resilience, will inspire you and enable you to overcome perennial overwhelm. Instead, these memorable, heartwarming vignettes will help you attain your dreams in ways you never thought possible.”

~Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, Ed.D., D.D. Author of Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life ConquerProstateCancer.com

“At the end of reading the beautiful poignant stories, the first word that came to my mind was “Wow!” These are extraordinary and brave stories….not only inspiring, but soul stirring. Each one of these narratives is proof that there is a choice to co-create with Source that will inevitably bring healing. All the authors had the trust, willingness, and courage to make that choice, and surrender to the mystery of life’s unfolding, demonstrating how tragedies, illness, disappointment and betrayal can be shape-shifted into miracles. It is a noble book not only for these unprecedented turbulent times, and serves as a beacon of hope for all of us in the human condition.” ~ Max Wellspring, TheWellSpringSolution.com.

To get your own copy and receive dozens of bonus gifts go to http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

Overcomers, Inc., Inspiring Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration

Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph.

You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light.

All of the contributors to this book want to encourage you to hold tight to your belief that a better day will come. It is their sincere desire to pass along what they’ve learned through their own trials, to make your journey easier.

This is our 38 Courageous Amazing Overcomers Authors and their compelling stories of hope, courage and inspiration. http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

Section 1- Hope

Mary Hayes-Bridges, When Tough Times Hit, There Is Always HOPE
Martha Lee Bohn , Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous
Nancie Benson , One Size Does Not Fit All
Kathleen Gage , Second Chances,
Lauren Salamone , Listen to What Your Heart Already Knows
Steven Rotz , When All Else Fails, There is Magic
Barbara McCollough , When Grace Comes to Get You
Karen Keeney , My Crazy, Beautiful Life Makeover
Nachhi Randhawa , Finding My Purpose Through Adversity and Practical Experience
Marifran Korb , The Weed That Broke Through the Sidewalk
Julio Blanco , Decide and Go Seek: Overcoming Life’s Chronic Little Challenges to Let Your Purpose Shine Through
Susan Hampton , I Am Experiencing "N.O.W."–(New Omnipotent Ways)
Marlene Oulton , Getting Older(and Over!) The "Not Enough" Syndrome-
Catherine Newton , Create A Magical Life: Tap Into Your Soul's Intention of Abundance

Section 2- Courage

Frances Thomas , The Awesome Power of Optimism: A Personal Journey to HOPE
Christine Kloser, Saying Good-bye to a Business I Loved Holly Eburne , Surrender To The Moment
Joshua Aragon, How Big Is Your Tent? One Man's Quest to Find the Answer for More, More, More
Nelie Johnson , Calling of the Heart
Colleen Bain , Remember to Stop and Just Breathe
Lalei E. Gutierrez , The Call to Trust and Believe in Healing Love
Amelie Chance , How the Airline Safety Speech Saved My Life
Rev. Rita “MeKila” Herring , When Your Intuition Calls, Answer the Phone!
Lynne Klippel , The Waiting Room Miracle
Kimberly Martin , Willy Loman, I Am Not!
Leela Francis, The Dance of The Sacred Sensual Me
Virginia Fischer, 140 Boxes…. More Than a Ton of Ancient History
Nancy Cotter , Are You Credit Worthy?-


Section 3- Inspiration

Paula Morand , When the Rain Falls
Tomar Levine , Growing Up After Fifty: It's Never Too Late to Bloom
Scott Cunningham , How Do I Get Out Of Here?
Catherine Van Wetter , A Time of Grief - A Time of Peace
Philip Belzunce , Transformative Power of Intimacy
Corrine Ropp , Forgiveness - The Key to Unlocking Your Prison
Margaret Sarkissian , Starting Over: A Journey of Loss and Recovery
Colleen Russell , Awakening to Her True Self
Charlon Bobo , From Trauma To Triumph: One Woman's Empowering Journey From Fragmented Child to Conscious Entrepreneur
Jan Janzen , Let God Do the Driving

http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Transformative Power of Intimacy

Philip Belzunce, Ph.D., ND, RPE, LSMFT, CPC

One of the lessons that I have learned so vividly can be compared to the sun in the sky. Some days, especially in winter, we may see only the dark clouds and believe with conviction in the delusion that the sun is not present. But just because the bright sun is entirely obscured by the dark clouds, it does not mean that the sun is not there shining.

I learned that no amount of preaching for world peace will ultimately create a harmonious humanity if any of us are still divided within. Through self-discovery and healing in body, emotions, mind, and spirit, to fully embrace my soul journey, I have transformed, with forgiveness and love, past fears and pains, to claim the joy I am living in my present and into my future. I am allowing myself to fully embrace a loving world.

Through experiences of “dying,” I learned the value of living. Though my body was threatened, my spirit became alive. I am now in a space of being truly grateful for how my past experiences have transformed how I perceive life. I believe that my gratitude helps me support my clients in a true theology of liberation through the process of integrating body, mind, and spirit.

From Overcomers, Inc.; True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration. To get your own copy and receive dozens of bonus gifts go to http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

We Are Here For You

Couples Overcome Adversity Together

Lalei Gutierrez and Philip Belzunce

The number and intensity of stressors affecting couples is growing exponentially. We are seeing economic, financial and health adversities actually “forcing” some couples that would have divorced, to stay together to survive. Their well being - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health - is being profoundly impacted in ways we’ve never seen before.

We all know that in the lifespan of every significant couple relationship, adversity strikes and shifts their lives to go out of balance. Their relationship can suffer as stressors intensify. Feelings of shame, guilt, anger, fear, sadness, worry, depression become the “virus” that weakens the couple’s relationship, as it becomes the vulnerable place where stresses of life get dumped.

Many couples are at a loss on how to deal with the challenges brought about by such adversities. Their strategies for coping with stress seem to not be working. It feels like they are pulling each other down the harder they try. It can feel like a battle for survival. How sad it is, when a former love becomes a current “enemy”.

Since the culture of western society values individualism, there are more supports available for individuals. It is at these times of stress that a holistic and system perspective is needed, wherein members come together for the overcoming of the whole unit…the couples together, as couples (husband-wife, father-mother, partners, friends, brother-sister, pairings or 2 person systems) are the microcosm of a society and the SEEDING and GROWING of Love.

We have found that during the times of adversity, many of us have been helped by wonderful people and profound moments that touch our inner being as individuals. When these profound moments impact the inner being of the couple system, the exponential transformation of the whole is even more profound.

These people and events can literally lift and carry us through these painful challenges. When this happens, the kindest and most gracious force known to humanity - LOVE has met us.

Love is the strongest force in the world and the most misunderstood….

When love is present, people feel and experience: inordinate energy, joy, well-being and great purpose.

The greatest work for a couple is to consciously commit to their relationship as one of healing love. Their commitment creates a foundation strong enough to weather the storm of life’s adversities, transforming them into a loving force that changes the world! By opening and integrating transformational processes, couples can move forward in their life’s journey – with all its trials and all of its joys!

To learn more about a couple’s transforming, healing love and how to overcome adversity in your relationship, please visit: http://tenpathwaysofhealinglove.com.

With Love and Gratitude –

Lalei

Lalei E. Gutierrez Ph.D., LSMFT, RPE, CPC, is a holistic psychologist, life, relationship and spiritual coach, marriage and family therapist, energetic body process practitioner, and diversity consultant whose coaching, counseling and/or consulting practice reflects her gratitude to serve with a Higher Purpose, individual, couples, families and groups through their life journeys, aspirations, transformative processes and well-being. To learn of her collaborative body-emotion-energy-mind-spirit process and practice (BEEMSS) method, check www.PhilLalei.com, and their e-book for Healing Love relationships www.TenPathwaysofHealingLove.com. (440) 333-4105

Monday, October 19, 2009

Overcomers, Inc. by Lynne Klippel - Book review : Blog Business World

<em>Overcomers, Inc.</em> by Lynne Klippel - Book review : Blog Business World
"You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light." writes author and publisher, and overcomer herself, Lynne Klippel in her inspirational and moving anthology of hope Overcomers, Inc.: True Stories of Hope, Courage, and Inspiration. The collected stories create a strong message of hope, even in times of uncertainty, fear, and despair.

The author of each straight from the heart essay in this powerful collection describes how adversity was faced, and how those very difficult challenges were overcome. The stories of hope are diverse, and are written by real people, living through, and triumphing over tragedy, illness, sorrow, and pain.

The book summary describes the greatness of the personal achievement, often despite terrible odds:

Overcomers, Inc.: True Stories of Hope, Courage, and Inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph.

You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light.

All of the contributors to this book want to encourage you to hold tight to your belief that a better day will come. It is their sincere desire to pass along what they’ve learned through their own trials, to make your journey easier.




Lynne Klippel (photo left) has done a tremendous service by making these inspirational stories available. The book is not like many anthologies of inspiration, but is intended as a guide, for the reader to keep handy for those moments when all hope seems lost. The various writers, from all walks of life, have all been in the same depths of despair, yet they emerged from their problems stronger, wiser, and able to share hope with others.

Business readers may be especially interested in the following author interviews, available in conjunction with the book itself, as they provide additional background for the author's story. There are many more author interviews, but these are a wonderful introduction to the many deeply personal stories of hope:

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Turning "Shit" into Fertilizer

Overcoming Cancer


In life “shit” happens. It does. It is the way life is. I’ve learned that without “shit,” there are no raw materials to create with passion, meaning and inspiration.

It is all about how we look at it…

As a little boy, I loved to play in the mud. It was how I showed my friends that I could rough it out. I loved playing in the river and I would wash all the mud off my body, and at the same time, I would wash my soul!

We did all kinds of things with cow “shit”:

We made Frisbees out of cow “shit” with my friends. We’d shape them and bake them in the sun, let them dry and then sling them at each other with great glee!

Did you know when you poke cow “shit” it really stinks?

We laughed and played with dried cow “shit!” until our hearts were content!

When slinging the cow “shit,” we always tried to avoid being hit by it (for obvious reasons), but if we did get hit, we recovered from it. If we recovered, we earned everyone’s respect. We believed that after you got hit, you got back on your feet and played again.

Little did I know that these childhood games would become the metaphoric resources that would save my life and help me guide others how to transform their “shit” into fertilizer.

I have had a life’s journey full of adversity, challenges and struggles. I have had to overcome and to learn how to transform the “shit” through some very dark tunnels in my life. By doing this, I now have a beautiful, full and loving life. I am honored to support others in their life journeys.

The pathway of my life’s work has been equally as adventurous. Here again, I’ve been able to take “shit,” toil and bring it to fruition.

I am a Holistic, Integrative Psychologist, a Naturopath, an Energetic Medicine Practitioner, a Life and Relations Coach, Diversity Consultant, a Priest-Spiritual Director and Minister.

While these may seem like labels, they reflect the richness of my life.


I became a naturopath as a way of combating the diagnosis of atypical malignant muscle cancer.

The cancer’s origins were caused when I received tortuous beatings as political prisoner under the dictatorial regime. Studying to be a naturopath was my conscious choice to combat the cancer, to rough it out in the mud. Instead of giving in, I tussled with the cancer by exploring alternative and holistic healing modalities. I knew I had to walk my talk if I were to follow my passion of becoming Whole.

Just as the tormentors tried to break my body, they could not hurt my Spirit. My Spirit belongs to God whom I love and serve with my whole Being. It is with this love, I have for all His people that he sends to me to work with.

With Love and Gratitude,
Phil

To learn more about a couple’s transforming, healing love and how to overcome adversity in your relationship, please visit: http://tenpathwaysofhealinglove.com .


Philip Belzunce Ph.D., ND, LSMFT, RPE, CPC is an integrative psychologist, naturopath, life and relationship coach, diversity consultant and author. He derives great satisfaction in serving with a Higher Purpose of facilitating individuals, couples, families and groups through transitions in their life journey and transformations for growth, healing and well-being. To know more of his collaborative work with his wife/partner, go to http://www.phillalei.com/ and find out how to reconnect with your body-emotion-energy-mind-spirit Life Journey in http://www.tenpathwaysofhealinglove.com/.

Friday, October 16, 2009

More on Shifting Perspectives

October 16, 2009


MORE ON SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES


In our last post, we were discussing the importance for intimate partners to be able to shift their perspectives when dealing with each other. We also remind you that ‘fully engaging in a significant couple’s relationship is the hardest task our human spirit desires….’


Why do it?


We realize the effort involved in making an intimate relationship work is vast. We believe that it requires an inner effort to shift from focusing on the problems to focusing on tapping healing love. Have you ever wondered, what would happen in our world if we all knew how to be intimate and embrace healing love?


Do you think there might be more:


  • Peace?

  • Joy?

  • Kindness?

  • Compassion?

  • Generosity?

  • Trust?

  • Prosperity?

  • Ethical Behavior?

We certainly believe this would be true. Here are some simple steps to help this begin to happen!


  • Learn how to see and listen to yourselves and each other from both-and perspectives!

  • Envision this kind of world for our children!

  • Join the other couples in the world who are tapping into healing love co-creating an exponentially magnetically strong force!

We deeply believe that when couples can learn how to shift their perspectives and hold multiple realities of the both-and rather than either-or and choose healing love, we can overcome adversities and transform the world.

Please join us in feeling and imagining this now. New seeds are being planted that are blooming into a radiant global forest of healing love.

In your relationships, please take the time to learn about each other’s perspectives. Practice the skill of holding both perspectives yours and the other. What new discovery are you having? How are you renewing and re-integrating your new discovery of yourselves together?

Thank you for being part of this healing vision and joining us on the journey of healing love. We appreciate you all!

We would love to hear about how you shift your perspective in the midst of conflict. Or how this post helped you shift some perspectives you have on your relationship. Please let us know by commenting below.


With Love and Gratitude,

Lalei and Phil
Join us at
www.phillalei.com to discover pathways of nurturing support and guidance to help you move upon your own journey of healing love.

Monday, October 5, 2009

It Is All About Shifting Perspectives

Overcoming Chaos, Differing Perspectives:
Shifting to see the Bigger Picture

We’ve been talking a lot about the importance of being able to shift perspectives and that when people can do this in their relationships, it really helps everyone feel valued.
We wanted to share a few of these thoughts with you as we are writing The Ten Pathways Of Healing Love and focusing on the importance of the pathway of Integration.

What does shifting perspective have to do with overcoming chaos and coming to an integration of a bigger picture, anyways. We’ll get to that, we promise!

Here are some of our recent thoughts (and perspectives) on shifting perspectives!

#1. Lalei’s Thoughts and Perspectives on Shifting Perspectives

I’ve always had ways to shift my perspective- to manage the chaos that can occur. I can remember from the age of four years old, I would always “go up”:

When it was chaotic in the house I would climb a tree, watching from the very top everything that was going on down below me. I felt on top of things.
When life would be difficult between my parents, my night dreams were always about flying to the mountains tops seeing the world below, going with the angels out in space to see things, to understand and to find a different way to see. Having conversations with my imaginary angel friend helped me see ways to make sense of my earlier world.
I used to be chastised by teachers for daydreaming or moving too much. In school to manage my boredom in the classroom, I’d be in my seat and found myself being like a helicopter watching the movements in the room from above.

I loved that I could shift my perspective, as it was a game I played by myself. As a child, I thought other people knew how to do this as well and was their secret. I didn’t realize that what I could do was unique. The benefit was my family would wonder where I got my ideas or insights as they would feel in some weird way seen and understood by me.
This skill in the rough in childhood became developed in my use of self as a facilitator of human relations. It came in handy when doing therapy, coaching or in facilitating a group. I had a way of beaming up from the middle of a conflict to see the "dance" of the conflict, and simply watch from varying perspectives. Then I would offer the process I observed.

This is why I can work with couples that are fighting or arguing their point of view. I would observe and listen beyond the words from many vantage points: go up, down, under and 360 degrees around without necessarily leaving my chair or place in the room. I could see where each one was coming from.

#2. Shifting perspectives, from the perspective of Phil…

I grew up in a farm with a beautiful, tranquil and special river. As a child, I loved going to “my river.” My river was a place of solitude, a place where I got in touch with my creativity, and was, at the same time, a place of joy that I frequented to shift my experiences of growing pains that at that times were overwhelming. My river was a place to rest, to recharge my batteries, and to soak up the refreshing feelings that bathed me in order to continue with life.

I would have conversations with “my river.” I would swim alone, or sometimes together with my childhood friends, communing with fishes, birds and animals around this extraordinary place. I would talk to my animal friends. “My river” was a place that I laughed so hard my stomach would ache. In the solitude with my river, I loved creating in my head “cognitive life theories”, puns and jokes.

My river was a pristine place that gave me inspiration to decode the unique spiritual or a few times, ironic messages to see life as a cosmic joke that the universe plays on humans.

I used to be seen as a jokester growing up- one who loved making people laugh. I still do. As a coach, I facilitate people’s ability to see out of the box, as well as not to be too seriously stuck in the box they are in. I notice that when people can laugh appropriately, they can see with humor thus helping them shift their perspective.

“My river” helped me to overcome my growing pains and adversities. It is still true today because I can always “return” to my “inner river” whenever I want or need to. Because of my childhood experiences, “my river” gave me special and unique signature skills as a therapist, coach, consultant, speaker and educator.

From these two very distinct childhood experiences and how we cultivated our early skills to be strengths, you can imagine some of the challenges we encountered learning to work together as a couple! It has taken us time, patience and painful encounters to work smoothly together.

One of the fundamental things we had to learn was how to shift our perspectives so that we could integrate as a couple.

Our dynamics can be quite funny! Lalei had to learn to come down to the river and laugh while swimming in the mud. Phil had to learn to ride the helicopter -- to see and feel the landscape from above.

Many times we wondered how we were ever going to survive navigating the tremulous, rough waves of the river of our relationship, wondering when the helicopter would arrive because we could not see through the thick fog.

By learning to appreciate our unique experiences and skills of overcoming adversities from our early lives, the metaphor of the union of the helicopter and the river perspectives joining together actually brought us miraculous experiences that we would not have discovered without the other.

Why does this matter?

Life and relationships are complex. Each person brings with them their childhood survival kits that forms and influences their unique perspective of the world. These perspectives profoundly impact their beliefs, values, approaches, styles, timing, rhythms and way of being in relationship in the world.

Through our life experiences we create our sense of:
  • who we are,
  • how we live,
  • our worthiness,
  • security,
  • belonging and
  • our standards for living
  • meaning and
  • what we value.

We have found in our own journey as a couple how respecting and honoring each other’s perspective and differences in our personal relationship has become a remarkably useful skill when we are coaching couples. Our clientele learns how to expand and shift their perspectives, as well as, how to appreciate their differences and gifts. When this happens, relationships become a rich ground for growth and transformation. This generates and co-creates a profound healing love and a conscious healing love partnership.

Over the past few years, our work has taken on a fascinating spin as humanity’s consciousness is expanding. As a relationship coach team, we also help couple’s discover the higher purpose of their relationship, offering them ways to discover a more integrated process on their love life’s journey.

What does this mean?

Fully engaging in a significant couple’s relationship is the hardest task our human spirit desires. It brings us to the heights and depths of joy and suffering. It stretches us to our limits and causes us to discover parts of ourselves that we never thought we possessed. It humbles us with our imperfections and magnifies our struggles. It highlights our difference, both to our surprise and chagrin. It brings us a multitude of emotions - many of which are inexpressible. It can be a haven from the adversities of living or a place of adverse living.

This relationship is a rich, microcosmic ground from which the dramas of history, tradition, politics, adversities and cultures get replayed. These dramas have a life of their own, where unconscious wounding is passed through our generations, societies, and cultures.

Why does it matter?

We believe it all deeply matters and are so glad to be part of supporting humanity in this time to discover new possibilities and solutions! Join us for in our next post where we’ll talk about what really matters…

We would love to hear about how you shift your perspective in the midst of conflict. Or maybe this post helped you shift some perspectives you have on your relationship. Please let us know by commenting below.


With Love and Gratitude,

Lalei and Phil

Join us at http://www.phillalei.com/ to discover pathways of nurturing support and guidance to help you move upon your own journey of healing love.

Adversity and Its Gifts: The Power of Water

There is something about adversity caused by natural disasters that penetrates to the very heart of human vulnerability.

Over the years I have been profoundly impacted by the power of water, including my own tears that can choke me up. It started when I nearly drowned at the tender age of six. Then, in mid-life, I confronted my fears and learned to swim. In the past decade, we were so affected by the tsunami in Thailand and the far-reaching effects of Katrina here in the United States.

Paradoxically, at the same time, my favorites relaxation images are always centered around water – peace descends for me as I enter into the grace of a waterfall, a bubbling brook deep in my being or listening to the lapping of waves by a sandy beach. I daily experience gratitude for water as the ultimate nourishment, cleansing and purifying agent of nature.

Bringing the power of water to my awareness, this past weekend, the island of Luzon in the Philippines was shattered by the typhoon, Ketsana, where 90% of the land was totally submerged in water. The Philippines is our original home.

Greater Manila, with a population of 20 million, is having its worst flood in decades. What started as normal rains during the rainy season, immediately became disastrous. The Marikina River swelled and washed away many homes leaving around 500,000 homeless, with the greatest impact on the poor and destitute.

Even though many communication lines were down, we found ways to connect with our family in the Philippines. You can imagine our relief to know that all our family members were safe. However, the impact of the tragedies and devastation felt so overwhelming to me as I learned that many have lost everything.

My radiant daughter was at a loss for words as she told us about the tragedy and her interwoven feelings of compassion and pain. My courageous daughter and son-in-law did everything they could in their power to provide shelter, food, clothing and health needs for their family business employees and their families who lost their homes. My mother provided shelter for the staff of her inn aside from all the guest, local and international who were stranded in Malate Pensionne.

We continue to learn of many heroic actions, where ordinary people have harnessed extraordinary generosity to care for their community. They are truly living the greatest gift that humans can offer to another - to be truly connected, for when one is affected, all are affected and we are all one.

The spirit of the human community emerged here in the United States and throughout the world. We have being hearing amazing stories of:

  • People staying present and in the moment, such as a group linking hands to walk together through the raging waters.

  • Those capable, helped mothers with babies and cared for the elderly.

  • People were brought up to rooftops, employees were given safe shelter in their work environments, and employers were feeding and clothing those that they employ and their loved ones.

  • Survival happened because everyone joined together, and reached out to help each other.

  • Churches were overflowing on Sunday, both with people looking for shelter, but also those who were there to pray for others.

  • Some were able to manage their fears by turning the rains into a children’s playground, an opportunity for a much needed bath, to wash clothes, to gather drinking water, to take pictures on cell phones and cameras, to share with family and friends their postings on Facebook and Twitter.

  • Family and friends from around the globe reached out and expressed their love and concern by connecting, listening, being present, extending prayers, sending love and contributing funds.

  • Others tapped their energies to asked the waters to quell, pondering the meaning of the power of water on the highest levels.

  • For others, outpouring, reaching out, sharing love and their innermost feelings of appreciation, fear, and grief.

As the floodwaters have subsided, the mud is clearing and rebuilding begins, we take a moment to remember all those that we cherish and appreciate in overcoming adversity together, reconnecting us to our vulnerability and our oneness.

With Love and Gratitude,

Lalei and Phil