Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders (TLiCHL) Certification Study Guide

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Butterfly Mondays  Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders (TLiCHL) Certification Option
Welcome, journeyers, to the Butterfly Mondays Life Coach Certification pathway, part of the Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders (TLiCHL) certification. TLiCHL is a dedicated certification program designed to equip journeyers with the skills, knowledge, and insights necessary to promote healing, transformation, and personal growth within ourselves, our families, and our communities. Grounded in the Frequency of Loving More, the Energy of Joy, Vibration of Hope, Elevation of Divine Purpose, Reflection of Peace, and Scope of Forgiveness, TLiCHL supports life coaches and healing leaders in fostering environments that encourage authenticity, vulnerability, and positive transformation.
For journeyers who have completed at least 20 hours of Butterfly Mondays sessions, including participation in quizzes, dialogues, and transformative exercises, there is an opportunity to strengthen and advance your coaching path. You may take a comprehensive final exam to either earn your Level 1 life coaching certification or, if you already have Level 1 certification, move up one level. For those currently at Level 3, the written final exam will count toward your Master’s level qualification, which also includes an oral presentation and qualification session.
This study guide provides detailed information about the TLiCHL curriculum covered in Butterfly Mondays sessions. It includes an overview of the syllabus, key concepts, and core philosophies essential to transformative coaching and leadership. The guide is designed to help you stay well-prepared and confident for your final exam. The next Butterfly Mondays session will serve as a dedicated study session to support your preparation for the upcoming exam.
Prepare thoroughly, and keep in mind that your journey to becoming a certified Transformative Life Coach and Healing Leader is one of continual growth, community healing, and collective empowerment. Use this guide and the upcoming study session as valuable resources for your ongoing transformation.

Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders (TLiCHL) Certification Course Syllabus
Course Duration: (30 Hours/level) 3 levels and Master’s Level Life Coach
Units: 2 Hour Each | Format: Virtual
Instructor: Dr. Bruce Purnell, dr.bruce@lovemoremovement.org
Administrator: Mama Sonya Cooper scooper@lovemoremovement.org
Office Hours: On-site and Virtual by Appointment
Core Text: The Caterpillar’s Web for Transformation: Wisdom of Elders and Butterflies
Blog: https://welovemoredrbruce.com/
Course Overview
This course provides Transformational Life Coaches and Healing Leaders (TLiCHL) with a healing-justice-centered, trauma-informed approach to healing and transformation. It integrates coaching, leadership, and holistic healing through an immersive, fantasy-inspired experience in the Land of WizOz. Journeyers will walk the Yellow Brick Road not as a physical route but as a metaphor for inner work, healing, self-discovery, and transformation.
Each Unit aligns with the HEAL-IDS Framework (Healing, Energy, Affirmations, Love, Identity, Dreams, Success) and incorporates mythical lands, the wisdom of Elders, ancestral teachings, and the experiences of iconic and historical figures to offer a transformative learning experience.
By the end of the course, journeyers will have the tools to become Cycle-Breakers, Leaders, Coaches, and Healers, capable of guiding themselves, others, families, and communities through self-love, forgiveness, transformation, and holistic wellness.
Learning Community Agreements
We must first create a sacred container (Brave Space) as we enter the Land of WizOz and start our shared journey toward healing, love, transformation, and leadership. This space we are building must reflect the love and respect we hope to share with ourselves, our families, communities, and the world.
Together, we agree to the following:
No Right or Wrong – Only Real
We understand that each of us offers a unique perspective. There are no perfect answers. Your lived truth is valid, and your voice counts. This isn’t about being right but about being genuine, vulnerable, and brave.We All Get Our Truths
We do not debate someone’s experience. We listen with our hearts and hold space for the truth that others share. Your story has power, and so do the other journeyers with whom we share humanity.

  1. Confidentiality is Sacred
    What’s shared in this room stays in this room. This is a sacred space for healing, not for gossip. We protect each other’s journeys and respect the courage it takes to share.
  2. Home as a Brave Space
    This isn’t just a safe space; it’s a brave space. This means we will challenge ourselves and each other with love. Growth doesn’t always feel comfortable, but it’s essential for transformation.
  3. We Lead with Love
    Even when we disagree, we stay committed to love as our foundation. We speak with kindness, assume positive intent, and aim to build one another up rather than tear each other down.
  4. Honor the Circle
    We are a collective where everyone matters. When one person speaks, we listen. We minimize side conversations and distractions. When you speak, you represent the voice of the community.
  5. Healing Takes Time and Patience
    We won’t rush anyone’s journey. Some days, you’ll feel like a butterfly; other days, like a caterpillar. That’s perfectly fine. Just keep showing up.
  6. Participation is Power
    Transformation happens through presence. We commit ourselves to being present not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. Each individual acts as a pillar of this community.
  7. Self-Awareness is Self-Respect
    If you’re feeling triggered, overwhelmed, or need a moment to pause, honor that. Step away and come back when you’re ready. Your healing is the top priority.
  8. We Are Here to Become the Healer We Once Needed
    This journey is more than just a course. It is a calling. As we walk the Yellow Brick Road together, remember that we are not only learning but also becoming.
    Course Objectives
    Journeyers who complete the TLiCHL Certification will:
    Develop healing-justice-centered, trauma-informed coaching strategies focused on transformative healing.
    Learn to facilitate intergenerational healing through ancestral wisdom and storytelling.
    Master holistic wellness practices, including affirmations, meditation, and emotional regulation.
    Engage in the Yellow Brick Road Simulation to practice coaching techniques.
    Explore forgiveness, love, and identity as essential aspects of healing leadership.
    Create a transformative personal and community-based project.
    Pass the Final Presentation, Mid-term, and Final Exam, complete quizzes, and earn a Transformative Life Coach & Healing Leader Certification.
    Course Requirements
    Active Participation: Engage in all Units and discussions
    Intergenerational Conversations: Bridge wisdom from the past and the present
    Creative Project: Develop an innovative healing framework
    Quizzes & Tests: Reinforce knowledge and application
    Yellow Brick Road Presentation: Apply coaching in real-world scenarios

Course Structure: The Seven Chambers of Healing & Transformation:
Unit 1: Navigating the Yellow Brick Road
Introduction and Orientation: Entering the Land of WizOz (Introduction)
Theme: Understanding Transformative Life Coaching & Healing Leadership
Guiding Metaphor: Navigating the Yellow Brick Road.
Key Takeaways:
• What it means to be a Transformational Life Coach and Healing Leader
• Defining Home as a Brave Space (B.A.S.E.)
• Understanding the illusions of external healing
Exercise: Taking the “Home as a Brave Space” Quiz & Personal Reflection

Unit 2: Chamber 1 – Healing
Theme: The Transformation and Healing Continuum: Atone, Forgive, Heal, Grow, Thrive, Love, and Transform
Guiding Metaphor: The Grinch—a character once defined by pain, now searching for the Love and warmth he once rejected
Key Takeaways:
• The difference between survival resilience and healing resilience
• Steps to move from trauma response to healing response
Exercise: Writing a Letter of Atonement to Self; Taking the Community’s Scale for Healing Possibilities

Unit 3: Chamber 2 – Energy
Theme: Shifting from trauma-based frequencies to healing and love-based vibrations
Guiding Metaphor: The Pied Piper & Wizzo, Using sound and energy manipulation to control vs. using energy to heal
Key Takeaways:
• Understanding trauma frequencies vs. healing frequencies
• The role of sound, meditation, and mindfulness in healing
Exercise: Creating Your Soundtrack for Healing, Quiz

Unit 4: Chamber 3 – Affirmations
Theme: Using words to reframe reality and rewrite narratives
Guiding Metaphor: Medusa—Transforming intergenerational curses: How do we heal the snakes on the inside
Key Takeaways:
• The power of language in transformation
• How affirmations shift subconscious beliefs
Exercise: Crafting & Speaking Your Affirmation Ritual: The Affirmation Jar, Quiz

Unit 5: Chamber 4 – Love
Theme: Anatomy of Love: Moving to Self-love, relational healing, and emotional emancipation and restoration
Guiding Metaphor: Rudolph & Hermey—Rejected for being different, they sought belonging and self-acceptance.
Key Takeaways:
• Healing attachment wounds
• Learning to love without conditions
Exercise: Love Letter to Your Inner Child; Love Quiz

Unit 6: Chamber 5 – Identity
Theme: Reclaiming self-worth and defining identity outside of trauma
Guiding Metaphor: Manifest & Hope Eagles—Raised as chickens, they had to remember their true nature
Key Takeaways:
• How past trauma creates false narratives of self
• The process of reclaiming personal truth
Exercise: Creating a “Who Am I?” Identity Map

Unit 7: Chamber 6 – Dreams
Theme: Believing in Butterflies—Trusting the Journey Toward Destiny
Guiding Metaphor: Manifest & Hope, Haunted by dreams of Lemuria, they discovered their destiny of activating the Healers’ Stone
Key Takeaways:
Dreams are portals to ancestral wisdom and divine purpose.
How to trust our visions as a guide toward transformation
Exercise: Becoming a Human Dream Catcher, Homework: Creating an Affirmation to Manifestation Vision Board; Butterfly Quiz

Unit 8: Chamber 7 – Success
Theme: Defining success through holistic wellness: Moving from Surviving to Thriving
Guiding Metaphor: Shamu the Killer Whale, Success as Ocean Consciousness and Divine Alignment
Key Takeaways:
• Success is alignment, not achievement
• Recognizing success beyond material measures
• Understanding the difference between Metaphors and Goals
Exercise: Redefining “Cool”, Love, Hope, Forgiveness, and Success for Ourselves, Others, Families, and Communities

Unit 9: In Person: Graduation | TBA
Final Thought: Believing in Butterflies & Embracing Transformation
This journey is more about inner engineering and evolution than coaching. Through this experience, you are choosing to become the healer you once needed and stepping into the fullness of your holistic healing platform and transformation. If we do not believe in butterflies, we may never enter our cocoon, remaining in a world where survival is the only reality we know. But “No Shade on Survival,” it has served and carried us this far. However, we are choosing this time to spread our wings and thrive.
The Yellow Brick Road has always symbolized the journey back to oneself, healing, joy, and love. Now, as a Transformative Life Coach and Healing Leader, you’re not only walking the path; you’re guiding others to find their way.
Are you ready to leave the illusion of survival behind and embrace the wisdom of transformation?
Are you ready to activate the Healer’s Stone?
If so, the Land of WizOz awaits, and the journey to your highest self begins now.
Key Concepts to Understand:

  1. Believing Again:
    o Importance of hope and positivity
    o Ways to embrace possibilities despite past trauma
  2. Butterfly Symbolism:
    o Represents gradual transformation, resilience, and hope
  3. Dreamcatcher Metaphor:
    o Capturing goals and aspirations actively
    o Importance of intention and focus
  4. Brave Spaces:
    o Encourages open, authentic, and vulnerable communication
    o Distinction between Brave Spaces and Safe Spaces
  5. Trauma Responses:
    o Definitions and examples of Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn
    o Understanding emotional and physical reactions
  6. Healing Stations:
    o Community-focused spaces for emotional and psychological support
    o Role in fostering healing and transformation
  7. Love More Movement:
    Rituals: Prayer, Leaders’ Affirmations, Cocoon, Transformative Life Cycle, FEVERS, Ten Commandments of Transformation
    Importance of community healing
    Collective approach to trauma recovery
    SOUL (Seniors Offering Unconditional Love): Rites of Passage from Seniors to Elders and Role of Elders in community healing
  8. Affirmations:
    Purpose, practical usage, and Benefits of positive reinforcement and consistency
    Butterfly Scale: Tool for measuring emotional and psychological healing
    Important Terms:
    Finesse Culture: Superficial approach to transformation, avoidance of genuine self-improvement
    Intergenerational Trauma: Historical trauma’s impact on current generations
    Transformation: Intentional, gradual, and often challenging process of change
    Journey to Joy Affirmation Jar: Practical exercise for daily affirmations and positivity
    Home as Brave Space: Emphasis on creating environments for open dialogue and vulnerability at home
    True or False Key Points:
    • Healing and transformation require active effort and participation.
    • Avoidance and suppression of emotions are counterproductive to healing.
    • Community involvement is essential for sustainable healing.
    • Affirmations help create positive psychological shifts.
    • Historical context and cultural understanding enhance healing processes.
    Study Tips:
    • Review the BLOG, including past sessions, definitions, characteristics of each trauma response, and themes of the sessions.
    • Understand the differences between superficial and genuine transformation. (We cannot finesse our healing journey.
    • Reflect on the importance of community in healing and transformation.
    • Practice creating and utilizing affirmations effectively.
    • Discuss how historical trauma affects individuals and communities today.

Butterfly Mondays Practice Questions:

  1. The concept of “Believing Again” primarily emphasizes:
    o A. Avoiding past failures
    o B. Embracing hope and possibilities
    o C. Suppressing emotions
    o D. Forgetting past trauma
  2. The metaphor of the butterfly symbolizes:
    o A. Stagnation
    o B. Immediate change
    o C. Gradual transformation
    o D. Avoidance
  3. “Becoming the Dreamcatcher” is about:
    o A. Protecting oneself from nightmares
    o B. Actively capturing dreams and goals
    o C. Ignoring reality
    o D. Giving up easily
  4. Brave Spaces primarily encourage:
    o A. Silence and compliance
    o B. Judgmental attitudes
    o C. Authentic conversations
    o D. Competition
  5. Trauma responses can include:
    o A. Only physical reactions
    o B. Fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactions
    o C. Purely logical reasoning
    o D. Consistent happiness
  6. Healing Stations focus primarily on:
    o A. Avoiding complex topics
    o B. Providing spaces for healing and transformation
    o C. Immediate solutions
    o D. Ignoring community trauma
  7. “Love More” promotes the idea that healing is:
    o A. Individualistic and isolated
    o B. Community-based and collective
    o C. Always easy
    o D. Unnecessary
  8. SOUL stands for:
    o A. Selfishness Offering Unconditional Love
    o B. Seniors Offering Unconditional Love
    o C. Society Of Unified Leaders
    o D. Strength Of Universal Love
  9. Affirmations are most powerful when:
    o A. Spoke negatively
    o B. Repeated frequently and positively
    o C. Rarely used
    o D. Ignored
  10. The Butterfly Scale measures:
    o A. Physical transformation
    o B. Emotional and psychological healing
    o C. Financial stability
    o D. Social media influence
    True/False Questions
  11. True or False: The Love More Movement emphasizes isolation over community healing.
  12. True or False: Trauma can manifest in both physical and emotional symptoms.
  13. True or False: Intergenerational trauma has no impact on current generations.
  14. True or False: Fawn response involves appeasing others to avoid conflict.
  15. True or False: “Believing Again” suggests completely forgetting past experiences.
  16. True or False: Butterfly Mondays aim to foster transformation through weekly engagement.
  17. True or False: Healing requires vulnerability and openness.
  18. True or False: The “fight” trauma response involves confronting threats directly.
  19. True or False: Love More’s approach integrates historical and cultural context into healing.
  20. True or False: Brave Spaces discourage open dialogue.
    Multiple Choice Questions
  21. Transformation typically involves:
    o A. Avoidance
    o B. Quick fixes
    o C. Gradual growth and self-awareness
    o D. Isolation
  22. “Finesse Culture” refers to:
    o A. Honesty in self-reflection
    o B. Avoiding true transformation through superficial means
    o C. Always telling the truth
    o D. Ignoring societal pressures
  23. The role of a Transformative Life Coach includes:
    o A. Diagnosing medical issues
    o B. Facilitating healing and self-discovery
    o C. Offering financial advice
    o D. Ignoring emotional needs
  24. Historical trauma can be addressed through:
    o A. Suppression
    o B. Ignoring history
    o C. Education and acknowledgement
    o D. Isolation
  25. Journeyers of Butterfly Mondays are encouraged to:
    o A. Avoid reflection
    o B. Engage in self-assessment and reflection
    o C. Ignore their emotions
    o D. Isolate from the community
    True/False Questions
  26. True or False: Affirmations help rewire the brain towards positive thinking.
  27. True or False: Avoiding difficult emotions is the best way to heal.
  28. True or False: Community-based healing strengthens relationships.
  29. True or False: The “freeze” response involves paralysis during stress.
  30. True or False: Transformation only requires mental changes.
    Multiple Choice Questions
  31. The purpose of Healing Stations is to:
    o A. Ignore community issues
    o B. Provide accessible emotional and psychological support
    o C. Focus solely on individual problems
    o D. Offer medical treatment only
  32. “Journey to Joy Affirmation Jar” exercise is primarily for:
    o A. Avoiding interaction
    o B. Encouraging daily positive affirmations
    o C. Forgetting past pain
    o D. Financial growth
  33. “Home as Brave Space” is best described as:
    o A. A place where everyone agrees
    o B. A place where difficult conversations are welcomed
    o C. A place of isolation
    o D. A place with strict rules
  34. Love More Movement aligns closely with:
    o A. Judgment and isolation
    o B. Compassion and community healing
    o C. Competition
    o D. Avoidance
  35. True transformation is described as:
    o A. Superficial changes
    o B. Temporary adjustments
    o C. Intentional, lasting change
    o D. Quick fixes
    True/False Questions
  36. True or False: Healing always occurs in a linear process.
  37. True or False: Transformation requires active participation and intentional effort.
  38. True or False: Butterfly Mondays discourage the exploration of trauma.
  39. True or False: Community involvement enhances the healing process.
  40. True or False: Historical context is irrelevant in healing journeys.
    Multiple Choice Questions
  41. A Brave Space differs from a Safe Space primarily by:
    o A. Encouraging risk-taking in communication
    o B. Avoiding conflict completely
    o C. Ensuring silence
    o D. Promoting agreement at all times
  42. Butterfly symbolism represents:
    o A. Immediate transformation
    o B. Fear of change
    o C. Hope, resilience, and gradual change
    o D. Avoidance

True/False Questions

True or False: Believing again is essential to moving forward positively.

True or False: Healing Stations should be exclusive to professionals.

True or False: Affirmations must be complicated to be effective.

True or False: Transformation often involves discomfort and growth.

True or False: Avoiding trauma discussions promotes healing.

True or False: Community support is crucial for sustainable transformation.

True or False: “Finesse Culture” supports genuine self-improvement.

True or False: Butterfly Mondays advocates for consistent community engagement.

Glossary of Terms
The Beauty of the Butterfly is not just in its appearance, but in its journey. It begins with the humble journey of the caterpillar, a powerful symbol of personal growth and transformation. This journey, from a crawling caterpillar to a graceful butterfly, is a testament to the potential for change and growth within each of us.

Study Guide: This guide is designed to help you master the concepts we’ve covered in our sessions and prepare for the exam. It’s a comprehensive glossary with the terms and definitions of most things we’ve discussed. By the end, you’ll be well-prepared for the life coaching exam.

Key Concepts:

Our Logo, the Healer’s Stone, is not just a symbol but a crucial emblem for every Journeyer. Understanding the ten symbols in the logo is not just a task but a key to unlocking its profound and deep-rooted meaning.
In Search for the Wormhole to Healing: These are the ten symbols

1.           Surrounded by Love: Heart

2.           Watched By Transformation and Peace: Butterfly and Peace Sign

3.           The Circle of Completeness: Circle

4.           Three Pyramids in One: Mysteries of Egypt

5.           Sirius Star on Summer Solstice floods the Nile River for the Harvest.
               : Light at the top of the Pyramid

6.           The cornerstone of the Great Pyramid: The square, 4 Right Angles

7.           Divine Life: The Life Flower at the top of the Pyramid

8.           The source of Life and the Force that connects us all: The Tree of Life

9.           The Dialectical Properties of the Universe: Yin Yang

10.         The Logo, Our search for the sacred portal and wormhole for Healing: The Healers’ Stone
Healing, Atoning, Forgiving, Growing, Thriving, loving, and Transforming
Energy of Love, light, Joy, Hope, Peace, Purpose, and Liberation
Affirming Divine Gifts, Purpose, Visions, Dreams, and Magic
Loving More Like we have never been hated
Transformation and Healing Journeyers are “Cycle Breakers” committed to “Turning the Station” and “Changing the Channel” in our lives, families, and communities. We are the Butterfly Effect, creating a Frequency, Energy, Vibration, Elevation, Reflection, and Scope of Love, Light, Joy, Hope, Peace, Purpose, Liberation, and Transformation as we Atone, Forgive, Heal, Grow, Thrive, Love, and Transform. We heal, build, and transform environments until they become Healing Stations, Home B.A.S.E.’s (Brave, Affirming, Secure Environments), and cocoons for transformation. In this journey of Healing, Transformation, and emotional weight loss, we develop a new lens for transformational leadership and universal healing through (FEVERS):
Frequency of Loving More
Energy of Joy
Vibration of Hope
Elevation of Peace
Reflection of Divine Purpose
Scope of Forgiveness
Entering this cocoon, Survivors evolve into leaders, leaders into coaches, and coaches into Transformational Life Coaches and H.E.A.L.-ing LEADERS, and we all become Journeyers. This journey involves transforming toxic stress, resentment, emotional pain, and past trauma into transformative energy through an evolution of self. This comes through Atonement, Forgiveness, Healing, Growing, Thriving, Loving, and Transforming. Although triggers to trauma are covered, our cocoon emphasizes the identification of Triggers to Joy. 

  • Activation-Synthesis Theory (J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley

The activation-synthesis theory suggests that dreams result from random brain activity during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage. According to this theory, the brain attempts to make sense of these random neural signals by creating a narrative or story. Dreams, therefore, are not seen as having specific meanings but rather as a byproduct of neurological processes.

  • Affirmations: Positive reminders or statements that can be used to encourage and motivate yourself or others
  • Africentric Theory (Nobles, 1976): Africentric theory, developed by psychologist Wade W. Nobles, emphasizes the significance of African cultural values, history, and traditions in understanding Black Identity. This theory promotes the idea that African people have a unique cultural heritage that should be embraced and used as a foundation for identity formation and psychological well-being. It encourages exploring and affirming African-centered perspectives, values, and practices.

Wade Nobles is a prominent African American psychologist and scholar who continues to make significant contributions to the field of Africentric psychology. His Africentric theory attempts to reframe the study of African American psychology within the context of African culture and history. Wade Nobles’ Africentric theory emerged due to the limited understanding and appreciation of African culture and history within psychology. It seeks to challenge Eurocentric perspectives and emphasizes the importance of cultural Identity, social context, and historical experiences in shaping the psychology of African Americans.

Theoretical Foundations: Nobles’ Africentric theory draws heavily from the Afrocentric paradigm, which posits that African people should be the primary agents of their cultural, social, and psychological development. It rejects the notion of African inferiority and aims to restore African cultural values, knowledge systems, and history to their rightful place.

Ma’at: Central to Africentric theory is the concept of Ma’at, which refers to the African ethical and moral framework that emphasizes balance, justice, and order. It serves as a guide for personal and collective well-being.

Sankofa: Nobles emphasizes the importance of “Sankofa,” a term from the Akan people of West Africa, which means “to go back” This concept encourages African Americans to reclaim and reconnect with their cultural heritage, history, and traditions.

Nia: Nia, derived from Swahili, signifies purpose or intention. Africentric theory emphasizes the need for African Americans to identify and pursue their individual and collective purposes to empower themselves and their communities.

Implications and Applications: Nobles’ Africentric theory significantly impacts psychology, education, and community development. It highlights the importance of culturally relevant interventions and the need to address historical and social factors contributing to African Americans’ psychological well-being.

Psychotherapy: Africentric theory suggests that psychotherapy should incorporate cultural values, rituals, and healing practices rooted in African traditions. It promotes the idea of cultural unity between therapist and client for effective treatment outcomes.

b. Education: The theory emphasizes the importance of culturally affirming education that recognizes and incorporates African history, contributions, and perspectives into the curriculum. It advocates for empowering African American students and promoting positive racial identity development.

c. Community Development: Africentric theory encourages the development of autonomous African American communities through economic empowerment, social activism, and fostering supportive networks.

  • Criticisms and Controversies: Wade Nobles’ Africentric theory has faced criticisms from various perspectives. Some argue that it essentializes African culture and overlooks the diversity within the African American community. Others contend that the theory lacks empirical evidence and relies heavily on subjective interpretations of history and culture.
  • Archetypes  –         Archetypes are events or symbols that humans experience or repeatedly see for an extended period and thus, become ingrained in our psyches.
  • Brave Space – Occurs when a cognitive, affective, and behavioral space becomes trusted enough for the participants to become vulnerable, authentic, and honest with themselves and others.
  • Butterfly Effect – This effect grants the power to cause a hurricane in China to a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico. It may take a very long time, but the connection is real. The storm would not have happened if the butterfly had not flapped its wings at the right point in space/time. A more rigorous way to express this is that small changes in the initial conditions lead to drastic changes in the results. Our lives are an ongoing demonstration of this principle.
  • Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst, had various insights and ideas about Identity throughout his work. Identity, or the sense of self, was a fundamental concept in Jungian psychology. Here are some critical aspects of Jung’s perspective on Identity:

Self-Integration: Jung believed that the goal of personal development is integrating the self, which involves embracing and reconciling all aspects of one’s personality, both conscious and unconscious. This process is individuation, where individuals strive to become whole and fully realized beings.

Persona: Jung introduced the concept of the persona, which represents the social mask or the public face that individuals present to the world. The persona is the Identity constructed to conform to societal expectations and roles. However, Jung emphasized recognizing that the persona is not the true self but a facade that conceals deeper aspects of one’s personality.

Shadow: Another crucial element of Jung’s view on Identity is the shadow. The shadow refers to the unconscious, repressed, or disowned aspects of an individual’s personality that are often considered unacceptable or undesirable. These can include traits, desires, or emotions that the person rejects or denies. Integrating the shadow is vital to a more complete and authentic identity.

Archetypes: Jung proposed the existence of archetypes, universal patterns, or motifs in the collective unconscious of all human beings. Archetypes represent fundamental aspects of human experience and influence individual identities. Examples of archetypes related to Identity include the Hero, the Wise Old Man/Woman, the Mother, and the Trickster.

Anima and Animus: Jung also discussed the anima (the feminine aspect in men) and the animus (the masculine element in women). These represent the unconscious opposite-gender qualities that influence an individual’s Identity. Integrating these aspects leads to a more balanced and complete sense of self.

Overall, Jung believed that true Identity goes beyond societal expectations and requires embracing the totality of one’s being, including both conscious and unconscious elements. The process of self-discovery and individuation involves integrating and reconciling these aspects to achieve a more authentic and fulfilled sense of self.

  • Chaos Theory: Chaos is the science of surprises, of the nonlinear and the unpredictable. It teaches us to expect the unexpected. While most traditional science deals with supposedly predictable phenomena like gravity, electricity, or chemical reactions, Chaos Theory deals with nonlinear things that are impossible to predict or control, like turbulence, weather, the stock market, our brain states, and so on. These phenomena are often described by fractal mathematics, which captures the infinite complexity of nature. Many natural objects exhibit fractal properties, including landscapes, clouds, trees, organs, rivers, etc., and many of the systems in which we live exhibit complex, chaotic behavior. Recognizing our world’s chaotic, fractal nature can give us new insight, power, and wisdom. For example, by understanding the complex, chaotic dynamics of the atmosphere, a balloon pilot can “steer” a balloon to the desired location. By understanding that our ecosystems, social systems, and economic systems are interconnected, we can hope to avoid actions that may end up being detrimental to our long-term well-being.
  • C.L.C.B.E. – A mindfulness strategy to de-escalate stress in real-time
    • Calculate – from 1 to 10, how intense is the stress
    • Locate – Where in your body do you feel the stress
    • Communicate – Talk to someone that you can trust
    • Breathe – Take a deep breath and count to 10
    • Exhale – Exhale the stress with your breath
    • Reassess – Take an inventory of the stress once again
  • Cocoon – The Brave Space Created to Hold Space for Transformation
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (C.B.T.) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that negatively influence behavior and emotions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that is designed to help individuals change negative patterns of thinking and behavior. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that changing any one of these components can lead to improvements in the others.
    In CBT, the TLiCHL works with the client to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs, and to develop new, more positive ways of thinking. The TLiCHL may also help the client to develop new coping strategies and behaviors
  • Cognitive Revolution: The cognitive revolution was a period of significant advancement in the field of psychology that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. Prior to this period, psychology largely focused on behaviorism, which emphasized the study of observable behavior and the idea that the mind was a “black box” that could not be directly observed or studied.
    The cognitive revolution marked a shift in psychology towards the study of mental processes, such as attention, perception, memory, language, and problem-solving. It emphasized the idea that the mind was an active processor of information, rather than a passive receiver of stimuli. This approach relied heavily on the use of experimental methods to study mental processes and the development of computer models to simulate cognitive processes.
  • Cognitive Theory (Antti Revonsuo):

The cognitive theory of dreaming posits that dreams serve an adaptive function by simulating threatening or challenging scenarios. This theory suggests that dreams help us prepare for potential dangers, solve problems, and enhance our cognitive abilities. It emphasizes the role of dreaming in information processing, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation.

  • Compensatory Theory (Alfred Adler):

Alfred Adler proposed that dreams reflect a person’s attempts to compensate for perceived deficiencies in waking life. Dreams may compensate for feelings of inferiority, self-doubt, or unfulfilled aspirations by providing a sense of mastery or success. Adlerian dream analysis focuses on understanding the individual’s goals, striving for superiority, and the pursuing of a holistic lifestyle.

  • Contemplation: the highest form of meditation coming at one with the Universe
  • Cultural Hegemony: the dominance of one group over another, often supported by legitimating norms and ideas. The term hegemony is often used today as a shorthand to describe the relatively dominant position of a particular set of beliefs and their associated tendency to become commonsensical and intuitive, thereby inhibiting the dissemination or even the articulation of alternative ideas. The associated term hegemon is used to identify the actor, group, class, or state that exercises hegemonic power or is responsible for disseminating hegemonic ideas.
  • Dialectical Behaviorism: A form of psychotherapy that combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical philosophy. Marsha Linehan developed this approach to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. Still, it has also been used to treat other mental health conditions such as substance abuse, depression, and anxiety.
    Dialectical Behaviorism emphasizes the importance of dialectics or the interplay of opposing forces or ideas. In therapy, this means balancing acceptance and change. The treatment teaches clients skills to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal relationships, and increase mindfulness.
  • Ervin Goffman’s Interpretations of Self In Everyday Life gave us an interpretation of how to understand the stage life plays out on, our roles, and how we select the parts we ultimately play. His masterpiece, “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, explains this unique understanding of the social world. The dramaturgical view of life added a new perspective to my lens through which I could make sense of and interpret the world.

Goffman used the theater as a metaphor to reveal how we interpret, relate, and navigate this social program we call our lives. He called it the dramaturgical model of social life, and this interpretation has always made the most sense to me. According to Goffman, our interactions as humans happen in a big theater. The audience would respond with applause or Boo’s as they reacted to the roles played out in real time. Backstage is where we would drop our parts and be ourselves if we were lucky enough to know the difference. Goffman also believed that people consistently attempted to manage the impressions that others had of them in public, and deviations would be an area of stigma. These roles occurred in a social program beautifully captured in the movie “The Matrix.” I build on Goffman’s work because of a belief that knowledge of self, outside of the program, is crucial to our healing.

  1. Self-presentation: Goffman emphasized the importance of self-presentation in social interactions. According to him, individuals actively shape their identities by strategically managing the impressions they give to others. This involves carefully selecting and presenting different aspects of themselves, depending on the situation and the desired impression they want to create.
  2. Dramaturgical metaphor: Goffman proposed a dramaturgical metaphor, comparing social interactions to a theatrical performance. Individuals are seen as actors who perform in front of an audience, working to create and maintain a particular identity. The Dramaturgical Metaphor idea implies that Identity is not a fixed entity but rather a dynamic and situational construction.
  3. Front stage and backstage: Goffman introduced the concepts of “front stage” and “backstage.” The front stage represents the public realm, where we interact formally and present a more polished and socially acceptable version of ourselves. On the other hand, the backstage refers to the private domain, where we can relax, be ourselves, and engage in more informal behaviors. This differentiation suggests that the context and the intended audience influence identity formation.
  4. Interaction rituals: Goffman emphasized the significance of everyday social interactions and rituals in shaping identities. He argued that shared rituals and social norms provide a framework to understand and construct our identities. Through repeated interactions, we internalize and incorporate societal expectations, values, and norms into our sense of self.
  5. Stigma and Identity: Goffman also explored the concept of stigma, which refers to social disapproval or negative perceptions associated with specific attributes or identities. He highlighted how we with stigmatized identities navigate social interactions, manage our presentation of self, and deal with the potential consequences of our stigmatized status. This aspect acknowledges the impact of external factors and societal reactions on identity formation.

In summary, Goffman would suggest that identity formation is an ongoing, socially constructed process. We actively engage in impression management, drawing on social norms, rituals, and contextual cues to shape our identities in different social settings. Identity is fluid, influenced by the roles we play, the expectations of others, and the management of stigmatized attributes.

  • Existential Therapy: Existential psychotherapy is a style of Therapy that emphasizes the human condition as a whole. Existential psychotherapy uses a positive approach that applauds human capacities and aspirations while simultaneously acknowledging human limitations.
  • George Herbert Mead’s Symbolic Interactionism: From a sociological perspective, Mead suggested that Identity is formed through social interactions, and individuals shape their identities based on societal roles and expectations. He stressed the importance of “the generalized other” — the societal norms and attitudes people consider when forming their self-image.

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that focuses on symbols, meanings, and interactions shaping human behavior and society. Here are some excellent examples that illustrate the principles of symbolic interactionism:

Face-to-face interactions: Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the significance of face-to-face interactions and how they shape social relationships. For example, in a conversation between two friends, the meaning of certain words or gestures can be negotiated and understood through shared symbols and past interactions.

Role-playing: Symbolic interactionism suggests that individuals engage in role-playing to understand and anticipate the expectations and behaviors of different social roles. For instance, a student may act differently when interacting with a teacher than with a friend.

Labeling theory: Symbolic interactionism is closely related to labeling theory, which examines how social labels and stereotypes influence individuals’ self-perception and behavior. For example, when a person is labeled as a “troublemaker” or “delinquent,” they may internalize these labels and adopt the corresponding behaviors.

Collective behavior: Symbolic interactionism can be applied to studying collective behavior, such as protests or riots. Participants in these events interpret symbols and meanings in their surroundings, influencing their actions and the overall dynamics of the event.

Dramaturgy: Symbolic interactionism views social interactions as performances on a stage. In dramaturgical terms, individuals play different roles and use various symbols and cues to present themselves to others. This concept is particularly evident in job interviews or dating situations, where individuals consciously manage their impressions to achieve a desired outcome.

Micro-level interactions: Symbolic interactionism focuses on the micro-level of social interactions, highlighting the everyday, mundane interactions that shape our social reality. It emphasizes how small-scale interactions contribute to constructing social structures and institutions.

  • Gestalt Therapy: a client-centered approach to psychotherapy that helps clients focus on the present and understand what is really happening in their lives right now, rather than what they may perceive to be happening based on past experience
  • Harambe: a Swahili name meaning working together, pulling together, helping each other, caring, and sharing
  • Healing – A state when one becomes vulnerable enough to release past trauma, toxic stress and emotional pain.
  • Healers ID: Seven Chambers of Transformation
  • “My H.E.A.L.-ing- I.D.’S.” – Love More’s seven chambers of Transformation. They consist of  Healing, Empathy/Energy, Affirmations, Love, Identity, Dreams, & Success
  • Healing Station: A Brave Fixed, Mobile, and virtual space to Atone, Forgive, Heal, Grow, Thrive, Love, and Transform
  • Heuristic: a mental shortcut that allows us to make decisions, figure out the plays, and/or solve problems quickly and with minimal cognitive effort.
  • Integrative Therapy: Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders Modality refers to the infusion of a person’s personality and needs – integrating the affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological systems within one person, as well as addressing social and spiritual aspects. Essentially, integrative life coaches are concerned with what works and why it works – tailoring transformation to their journeyers and not the journeyers to the transformation.
    Integrative therapy, integrative psychotherapy, or integrative Life Coaching refers to a combined approach to Transformation that combines different elements of specific modalities. Instead of adhering to one specific therapeutic or transformative approach, integrative coaches are open, informed, and eclectic, adopting the transformative tools that will best help their clients.

There are several reasons why integrative transformation could be a modality of choice:

  • Holistic View: Integrative transformation aims to consider and address the individual’s various dimensions. It looks at the whole person, including their mental, emotional, physical, and social aspects, to understand their experiences fully.
  • Flexibility: Since it doesn’t strictly adhere to one specific transformation school, integrative transformation can be flexible and tailored to individual needs. If a particular approach doesn’t seem to work well for a Journeyer, integrative Transformative Life Coaches can switch strategies without changing Transformative Life Coaches.
  • Multiple Theoretical Perspectives: Integrative transformation allows for a broader understanding of a Journeyer’s issues by incorporating insights from various theoretical perspectives. This multidimensional understanding can provide a more comprehensive approach to treatment.
  • Inclusive: Integrative transformation respects the individuality and uniqueness of each Journeyer. It recognizes that different Journeyers respond better to different types of transformation, and it seeks to offer a personalized approach.
  • Comprehensive: This approach can be particularly useful for complex or multifaceted mental health issues, where one therapeutic perspective might not be enough to address all aspects of the issue.

However, the effectiveness of any transformation, including integrative transformation, depends on several factors, including the life coach’s identifiability, the journeyer’s openness and motivation, and the relationship between the journeyer and the life coach. 

  • Intersectionality (Kimberlé Crenshaw): While not a theory of identity formation per se, intersectionality has dramatically influenced modern discussions about Identity. It suggests that different aspects of a person’s identity — such as race, gender, class, and sexuality — do not exist independently but intersect and interact in shaping an individual’s experience and Identity. 
  • James Marcia’s Identity Status Theory: James Marcia Extended Erikson’s work and focused explicitly on adolescent identity development. He proposed four identity statuses (identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity moratorium, and identity achievement), characterized by varying degrees of exploration and commitment.
  • Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development: While not directly about Identity, Piaget’s theory influences our understanding of identity formation. Piaget proposed that children pass through distinct stages of cognitive development, which may influence their self-perception and awareness of the world.
  • Little Man, Cha Cha: What it means to believe in Butterflies Simulation: In this simulation, we are Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders assigned to our newest clients, Manifest “Little Man” Freemen and Hope “Cha-Cha” Jackson. Manifest and Hope are 2 of the main characters of a Black Fantasy titled “Little Man, Cha Cha, and the Eagles Maze.” This assignment will require us to travel to the universe of “WizOz” and journey on “The Yellow Brick Road” to help Manifest and Hope free/heal themselves from past trauma and navigate their journey from home to “Om.” They will be traveling to see the WizOz accompanied by Medusa, The Grinch, Rudolph, Hermey, Shamu the Killer Whale, and General Hannibal Barca while navigating the manipulating frequencies of the Pied Piper. Like Dorothy, their healing journey and calling will start when they can click their heels and go home. For this to happen, they must release past Trauma, forgive themselves and others, facilitate the healing journey of their fellow travelers, prepare to trust Love enough to believe in Butterflies, and become vulnerable enough to identify and enter their respective Cocoons. We must understand authentic and holistic Healing starts with a Brave Space, our Home B.A.S.E. (Brave, Affirming, Secure, Environment). As the African proverb says, “Home is not where we live; Home is where we belong.” Therefore, we must discover a way to recreate and fortify Home B.A.S.E. to be a Loving, nurturing, learning, and Brave Space where we can escape the Yellow Brick Road and become vulnerable enough to Atone, Forgive, Heal, Grow, Thrive, and Transform.
    While facilitating Little Man and Cha-Cha’s Healing journey, we will discover many things about ourselves, our Trauma, and our perception of Healing. We will also understand how this journey from Trauma to Transformation is connected to the chambers of Healing, Energy, Affirmations, Love, Identity, Dreams, and Success, and a conscious shift from “Surviving to Thriving.”
  • Looking Glass Self: Charles Horton Cooley, in his work, Human Nature and the Order, introduced the concept of “the looking glass self” in 1902. It can be explained as the reflection of what we think we appear in front of others or how we are viewed and conceived by others. Cooley used the term to describe the process of socialization. He considered that the concept of self or one’s sense of identity comes not only from our direct contemplation of oneself or our personal qualities but also from the examination of the way others perceive one in society. In other words, social interaction plays a significant role in the process of self-identification.
  • Love: “Love,” derived from Sanskrit lubhyati, meaning “desire,” is the most potent energy and force in our social world and is universally understood through our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Most of us have heard that Love conquers all, Love Wins, Love Heals, and God is Love, so I posit that one human behavior that consistently yields positive outcomes is to Love More. Love is more robust than logic and science and universally affects all humanity regardless of culture, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other characteristics that allow us to attach “isms.”  Love is a shot of adrenaline, endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin. It involves the limbic system’s basal nuclei, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus, and it can act both as an analgesic and a sedative. Love is connected to the sympathetic nervous system’s fight or flight responses, so instead of saying fight, flight, or freeze, we also have the option to Love More. Parents wait for their babies to utter Love as their first emotional power concept with, “I Love you, Mommy, and I Love You, Daddy.” There is no question about the importance of how Love will ultimately shape our lives. If Love happens positively, healthily, and healingly, it will be our most vital protective factor and connected to transformative decisions and healthy lifestyles. 

Love Types –

  • Eros: Eros is often associated with romantic or sexual love. It is the passionate, intense feeling of attraction that draws individuals together.
  • Philia: Philia is a type of love based on friendship and mutual respect. It is often characterized by loyalty, companionship, and shared values and interests.
  • Storge: Storge is a type of love rooted in familial or familial-like relationships. It is characterized by a deep affection and emotional connection that often develops over time.
  • Ludus: Ludus is a playful, flirtatious love often associated with casual relationships or short-term flings. It is characterized by a lack of commitment and a focus on having fun.
  • Pragma: Pragma is a pragmatic, practical love based on shared goals and interests. It is often characterized by a deliberate, thoughtful approach to relationships and a focus on compatibility and long-term compatibility.
  • Philautia: Philautia is a type of love focused on self-love and self-care. Depending on the level of self-esteem and self-awareness involved, it can be either healthy or unhealthy.
  • Agape love is often described as a type of love that is selfless, compassionate, and generous. It is not based on the attractiveness or worthiness of the object of love but rather on the act of loving itself.

Love Languages – According to Chapman, the five “love languages” are:

  • words of affirmation (compliments)
  • quality time.
  • gifts.
  • acts of service.
  • physical touch
  • Love More Movement – A community-based organization that has a mission of Healing from past trauma through a vibration of Love and preserving the viability of Indigenous leadership by:
    • Loving More because Love Wins and Love has the power to transform every other energy.
    • Building Brave Spaces to Atone, Forgive, Heal, Grow, Thrive, Love, and Transform
    • Creating and Implementing a methodology and platform to train Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders
    • Building Seniors Offering Unconditional Love (S.O.U.L.) as a platform for Senior Engagement and Intergenerational Healing
    • Building the Overground Freeway as a platform for mental liberation, freedom, justice, diversity, and inclusion.

Marcus Garvey was one of the most significant figures in the Pan-African movement, advocating for the unification and self-determination of African people worldwide. He saw identity formation as closely linked to racial pride, cultural heritage, and self-reliance. Garvey encouraged people of African descent to be proud of their Racial Identity and heritage. He advocated studying and appreciating African history, culture, and accomplishments as crucial to identity formation. He believed that understanding and acknowledging the achievements of one’s ancestors could inspire pride and self-confidence.

  1. Self-Reliance and Independence: Garvey saw economic independence as a critical part of Identity. He promoted entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency within the African diaspora. He believed achieving economic independence was crucial to self-determination and empowerment.
  2. Global African Unity: Garvey saw the Identity of African people as not limited to their specific nationality but as a part of a worldwide African community. He promoted the idea of Pan-Africanism, encouraging unity among African people worldwide.
  3. Negation of Inferiority: He fought against the notion of black inferiority perpetuated by white supremacy/insecurity. He would argue that people of African descent should reject any imposed identities that depict them as lesser or inferior.
  4. Activism and Resistance: Garvey considered active resistance against racial injustice an essential part of identity formation. He believed that individuals could define themselves through their heritage, personal achievements, and struggle against oppression.
  5. Back to Africa Movement: Part of Garvey’s identity formation vision was the idea of African descendants returning to their ancestral homeland to establish a solid and independent nation. This aspect has been debated and criticized but was integral to Garvey’s identity vision.
  • Medusa – She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil, and one of the most misunderstood stories of unaddressed trauma.
  • Narrative Identity Theory (Dan McAdams): This theory suggests that people form an identity by integrating their life experiences into an internalized, evolving story of the self that provides a sense of unity and purpose.

Narrative Identity Theory: An Exploration of Dan McAdams’ Framework

Abstract: Narrative Identity Theory, developed by psychologist Dan P. McAdams, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how individuals construct their sense of self through creating and interpreting personal life stories. By analyzing McAdams’ theoretical perspectives and empirical research, this report aims to shed light on the significance of narrative in shaping unique Identity and the psychological well-being of individuals.

Introduction: Narrative Identity Theory encompasses the idea that individuals form their sense of self by constructing and interpreting personal narratives that give meaning to their past, present, and future experiences. Developed by Dan P. McAdams, this theory offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human Identity. It provides a framework for understanding how individuals make sense of their lives through storytelling. At the core of Narrative Identity Theory lies the concept of the life story. McAdams posits that individuals construct coherent and evolving narratives that organize their life experiences into meaningful sequences. These stories typically consist of central themes, characters, plotlines, and an overall sense of Identity.

Narrative Identity is the internalized and evolving self-concept we derive from our life stories. It encompasses the values, beliefs, goals, and motivations that guide our actions and decisions. Narrative Identity is a dynamic construct continuously shaped and revised as we experience new events and integrate them into our life narratives. Two critical elements within Narrative Identity Theory are agency and redemption. Agency represents a sense of authorship and control over our life story. Redemption refers to the process of reframing negative or challenging experiences in a way that fosters personal growth, resilience, and a sense of purpose.

The Life Story Interview: McAdams developed the Life Story Interview as a qualitative research method to explore individuals’ life narratives. This semi-structured interview aims to elicit detailed personal stories, capture the thematic content, and identify important turning points in their lives. This approach gives researchers insights into how individuals construct and interpret their life stories.

Psychological Well-being: Narrative Identity Theory suggests that individuals with coherent, meaningful, and adaptable life narratives tend to experience higher psychological well-being. Such narratives provide a sense of continuity, purpose, and a framework for understanding our experiences, leading to enhanced self-esteem, resilience, and overall life satisfaction.

Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders Interventions: Understanding the role of narrative in identity formation has implications for transformative interventions. Life Coaches can help individuals explore and reframe their life stories, fostering positive identity development and personal growth. Narrative interventions are effective in various transformative and therapeutic contexts, such as trauma recovery, identity crises, anxiety, and depression.

  • Pallete of Being – This leads Tom Chi to a concept he calls The Palette of Being. All of us are born into this life, having available to us the experiences of humanity that have come so far. We typically are only able to paint with the patterns of thought and the ways of being that existed before, so if the piano and the way of playing it is a way of being, this is a way of being that didn’t exist for people 5,000 years ago. It was a color in the palette of being that you couldn’t paint with. When you’re born, you can learn the skill; nowadays, if you’re born, you can learn to be a computer scientist, another color that wasn’t available a couple of hundred years ago.

 Our lives are excellent for the following reason: we’re born into this life, and we can go and make this unique painting with the colors of being that are around us at the point of our birth, but in the process of life, we also have the unique opportunity to create a new color, and that might come from the invention of a new thing: the self-driving car, a piano, the computer. It might come from how you express yourself as a human being; it might come from a piece of artwork you create. Each of these ways of being, these things that we put out into the world through the creative process of mixing all the other things that existed at the point that we were born, allow us to expand the palette of being for all of society after us.

This leads Tom to a straightforward way to frame everything he talks about above because he thinks many of us understand that we exist in this marvelous universe. Still, we think of this universe as we’re this tiny unimportant thing, that there’s this massive physical universe and inside of it there’s the biosphere, and inside of that is society, and inside there’s us, we’re just one person out of 7 billion people and how can we matter? We think this is a container relationship where all the goodness comes from the outside to the inside, and there’s nothing extraordinary about us. Still, the palette of being says the opposite. It says that the way we are in our lives, the way that we affect our friends and our family, begin to change the way that they can paint in the future, begins to change the way that communities then affect society, the way that society could then affect its relationship to the biosphere and the way that the biosphere could then affect the physical planet and the universe itself. If it’s a possible thing for cyanobacteria to transform the physical environment of our planet completely, it is a possible thing for us to do the same thing.

So, what do we do with this fantastic gift of consciousness? Because of this gift, we can deeply understand our connectedness in a way that we haven’t seen other animals have the opportunity to do so. Because we can deeply understand our connectedness, we’re the ones who decide how we’re going to use that knowledge to build our societies and shape our lives.

  • Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome – P.T.S.S. is a theory that explains the etiology of many adaptive survival behaviors in African American communities throughout the United States and the Diaspora. It is a condition that is a consequence of the multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery that was predicated on the belief that African Americans were inherently/genetically inferior to whites. This was then followed by institutionalized racism, which continues to perpetuate injury.
  • Prayer:
    Our thoughts are prayers, and we are always praying
    Our thoughts are prayers, Love More is what we are saying
    Our energy is a vibration, a frequency to heal the nation
    And know that God is always here, and every thought becomes a prayer.
  • Race is an attempt to create a social construct to categorize people primarily by their physical differences.
  • Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: said at the turn of the 11th century, “L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs,” or  “hell is full of good intentions and wishes.” We have probably heard this as “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions.”
  • Sekhmet: Sekhmet, whose name means: “She who is powerful” or “the One who loves Ma’at,” was the goddess of the hot desert sun, plague, chaos, war, and healing. She was created from the fire of the sun god Ra’s eye when he looked upon Earth. Ra created her as a weapon to destroy humans for their disobedience to him and for not living by the principles of Ma’at. Sometimes, she is seen as the daughter of Geb (Earth) and Nut (the sky).

Sekhmet was depicted with the body of a woman with a lion head wearing a sun disk. She was seen as the protector of the pharaohs and led them in warfare. When calmer, she would be the household cat goddess Bastet.   

  • Sekhmet could avert plague and cure disease. She was the patron of physicians and healers.
  • The ancient Egyptians believed that Sekhmet had a cure for every problem. To stay on her good side, they offered her food and drink, played music, and burned incense. They would whisper their prayers into the ears of cat mummies and offer them to Sekhmet. They believed this was a direct connection to the deities and that their prayers would be answered.
  • Self-Efficacy: “the conviction that one can successfully execute the behavior required to produce certain outcomes.” Self-efficacy is a construct that comes from social cognitive theory, which posits that there is a dynamic relationship between thought, behavior, and the social environment.
Performance OutcomeAppraisal of a performance episode
Verbal PersuasionWhat we are told by significant others
Vicarious ReinforcementWhat we see as representations of self
Physiological ArousalThe feeling experienced during a performance episode
  • Shamu: A Story created by Dr Bruce Purnell to reveal the brainwashing component of the program.
  • Shamuized: A state of being brainwashed out of knowledge of self
  • Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, believed that dreams manifest unconscious desires, fears, and repressed thoughts. He proposed that dreams serve as a symbolic expression of unconscious conflicts and wishes. Freud emphasized the importance of analyzing dream symbols, latent content (hidden meaning), and the interpretation of dreams through free association.
  • Social Identity Theory (Henri Tajfel and John Turner): This theory suggests that part of a person’s Identity is derived from their membership in social groups. Social Identity is formed through social categorization, social comparison, and the psychological attachment to social groups.
  • Spiritual and Transpersonal Dream Interpretations:

Various spiritual and transpersonal perspectives view dreams as a doorway to higher consciousness, spiritual insights, and transcendent experiences. These interpretations often involve exploring the symbolism, archetypes, and mystical dimensions of dreams concerning personal growth, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.

According to Native American beliefs, dream catchers are intended to filter and trap bad dreams while allowing good dreams to pass through. It is believed that when a dream catcher is hung above or near a person’s sleeping area, it captures negative dreams in its web, while positive dreams slip through the hole and gently slide down the feathers to reach the sleeper. In the morning, the first light of day is said to dissolve the bad dreams caught in the web.

  • Status Quo – Status quo is Latin for “existing state.” When we talk about the status quo, however, we often mean it in a slightly bad way. When people want to maintain the status quo, they are usually resistant to progress.
  • Ten Commandments of Transformation:
  • Therapeutic Approaches – Roadmaps that guide coaches through understanding actors and their problems and developing solutions. Please refer to the handout
  • T.Li.C.H.L. – Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders
  • Transformation – a thorough or dramatic change in shape, essence, Spirit, Personality, Behaviors, form, and/or appearance.
  • Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders: “Cycle Breakers” committed to “Turning the Station” in our lives, families, and communities to a frequency and energy of Love, Light, Joy, Hope, Peace, Purpose, Liberation, and Transformation.
  • Transformative Life Coaches Leaders Affirmations:
  • Trauma – an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer-term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual’s coping ability. When trauma remains unresolved, it continues to influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, often without our conscious awareness. Here are some ways in which unresolved trauma can impact our life choices:

Fear and avoidance: Traumatic experiences can create intense anxiety, fear, and a desire to avoid anything associated with the trauma. This avoidance can lead to avoiding certain activities, places, or people that remind us of the traumatic event. We might limit our experiences and opportunities due to the fear of triggering or re-experiencing the trauma.

Negative self-beliefs: Trauma can lead to negative beliefs about oneself, such as feeling unworthy, helpless, or fundamentally flawed. These beliefs can undermine our self-confidence and affect our decision-making process. We may avoid pursuing goals or taking risks because we don’t believe in our abilities or deserve success.

Hypervigilance and impulsivity: Trauma can result in heightened arousal and hypervigilance, where we are constantly on high alert, anticipating danger or threat. Hypervigilance and impulsivity can lead to impulsive decision-making to gain control or escape from distressing emotions. We may make choices without considering the consequences, seeking immediate relief or distraction.

Difficulty with Trust and Relationships: Traumatic experiences can erode Trust in others and make forming healthy, secure relationships challenging. Unresolved trauma may lead to problems in establishing and maintaining intimate connections. This lack of Trust can influence our decisions regarding romantic partners, friendships, and professional relationships, as we may hesitate to trust or open up to others.

Self-destructive behaviors: Unresolved trauma can contribute to engaging in self-destructive behaviors to cope with emotional pain. These behaviors may include substance abuse, self-harm, or risky behaviors that provide temporary relief but have long-term negative consequences. Such choices can further exacerbate the impact of trauma on our lives.

Emotional regulation difficulties: Trauma often disrupts our ability to regulate emotions effectively. We may experience intense and unpredictable emotional reactions, including anger, anxiety, or dissociation. These emotional challenges can impair our decision-making process, leading to impulsive or irrational choices driven by emotional distress rather than rational thinking.

It is important to note that the impact of unresolved trauma varies from person to person. Some individuals may find ways to cope and make healthy choices despite their trauma, while others may require support and therapeutic intervention to address the underlying issues. Professional help, such as therapy, can be instrumental in healing from trauma and facilitating healthier decision-making.

We Refuse to be an extra in our Life movie because:

  • The 72 trillion cells inside our bodies make us “All Stars,” if not constellations
  • The 250 million cells that competed to fertilize one egg make our birth a miracle
  • Our Ancestors are the Director
  • Our Creator is the producer

Nigrescence Theory (Cross, 1971): Nigrescence theory, developed by psychologist William E. Cross, Jr., focuses on Black identity development. Cross proposed that Black individuals go through a series of identity stages as they create a positive Black identity. The stages include Pre-Encounter, Encounter, Immersion/Emersion, Internalization, and Internalization-Commitment. The theory recognizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing racism and oppression in developing a healthy Black identity.

Cross suggested racial Identity plays a significant role in shaping individuals’ perceptions of themselves and their societal interactions. Cross’s theory provides a framework for understanding how racial identities are constructed.

William Cross is a prominent psychologist and scholar known for his extensive research on racial identity development. He developed his theory in the 1970s, primarily focusing on African Americans. However, his theory has been expanded to include other racial and ethnic groups, recognizing the intersectionality of identities.

Nigrescence refers to developing a positive and healthy racial identity as an African American. Nigrescence involves moving through stages of racial identity development, encompassing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to one’s racial group.

Pre-Encounter Stage The pre-encounter stage represents an individual’s initial perspective on racial Identity, often influenced by societal messages and stereotypes. In this stage, individuals may adopt beliefs and behaviors that align with the dominant culture, leading to a disconnection from their racial heritage.

Encounter Stage The encounter stage is characterized by a significant event or series of experiences that challenge an individual’s previous racial Identity. These encounters can be positive or negative, prompting critical reflection and questioning of one’s racial beliefs and affiliations.

Immersion-Emersion Stage: During the immersion-emersion stage, individuals actively seek out information about their racial group and immerse themselves in cultural experiences. This stage involves exploring and identifying with one’s racial heritage, often accompanied by anger, resentment, and a desire to distance oneself from the dominant culture.

Internalization Stage The internalization stage marks the development of a more secure and positive racial identity. Individuals in this stage have integrated their racial Identity into their overall sense of self. They exhibit a sense of pride, confidence, and comfort in their racial heritage while also maintaining an appreciation for diversity and recognizing the complexities of race.

Implications and Criticisms and Implications: Cross’s theory of racial Identity has a necessary impact on understanding individuals’ psychological well-being and experiences from racially marginalized groups. It highlights the significance of addressing racial identity development in therapeutic and educational settings, promoting self-awareness, and fostering positive racial identities.

Criticisms While Cross’s theory has contributed significantly to racial identity development, it has faced criticism. One criticism is that the theory primarily focuses on African Americans, limiting its generalizability to other racial and ethnic groups. Additionally, some argue that the theory may oversimplify the complexities and variations in racial identity development by presenting a linear progression of stages.

  • This journey starts by trusting Love enough to create Brave Spaces to forgive, heal, grow, thrive, and enter our Divine cocoons, where we will expand our wings for Divine Journeys of Transformation.

A few Things to know:
Level 1 Life Coaches

  1. Recite the Leader’s Affirmations
  2. Recite the Prayer
  3. What is the Acronym for HEAL
  4. Discuss the role of “Medusa” in the Yellow Brick Road journey and her      connection to trauma.

Level 2 

  1. Explain how Self-Efficacy and the Looking Glass Self relate to taking the first step in Transformation.
  2. Discuss the relevance of the “Butterfly Effect” in the context of transformative leadership

Level 3
1. How does past trauma connect with the Yellow Brick Road?
2. Explain cultural hegemony and provide a little history about Antonio Gramsci. 3. What is the Autonomic nervous system, and what does it have to do with trauma recovery?
Master Journeyers 
1. Explain why we use Integrative therapy over the ever-popular Cognitive Behavioral Theory.
2. What is the difference between Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders and other life coaching certifications?
3. What is the Palette of Being, and what is its relevance?

Published by Dr Bruce Purnell

"Dr. Bruce Purnell, a visionary in the realm of Transformation, Love, and Healing, is the founder and executive director of The Love More Movement, a pioneering non-profit dedicated to fostering a world where Love, Light, Joy, Hope, Peace, Purpose, Liberation, shared-humanity, and Transformation aren't just ideals, but everyday realities. As a proud descendant of Underground Railroad conductors, Freedom Fighters, and Educators, Dr. Purnell's roots deeply intertwine with his lifelong mission of advocating for universal healing and liberation, drawing inspiration from his ancestors' Divine purpose and mission. Through his innovative leadership, Dr. Purnell has established impactful initiatives like Transformative Life Coaches and Healing Leaders, which focuses on healing from past trauma and moving to Transformation through a vibration of Love, and Seniors Offering Unconditional Love (S.O.U.L.), a platform empowering seniors to spread Love, compassion, and wisdom. His cultural movement, The Overground Freeway, states that we will never have physical freedom without mental liberation. A celebrated author, Dr. Purnell has composed 'The Caterpillar's W.E.B. for Transformation: The Wisdom of Elders and Butterflies,' the first in a series of five books that embody his philosophy of Transformation coming through the power of Love, joy, forgiveness, social alchemy, and shared humanity. This influential work mirrors his dedication to creating a more enlightened, healed, loved, and empathetic society.

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