Educate. Empathize. Coexist. - Tazjana Lebrilla

(This blog is 19th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey, and 3rd on my former Montessori students. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Guisseppe Gumban)

Tazjana and her sisters were my students when I taught at Iloilo Montessori International School. I remember her as serene, soft-spoken, and almost shy. Her parents were peaceful, quiet, and gracious in every manner. Now, many years later, it is no wonder that Tazj has retained her serenity in the midst of what she sees as a divided world.

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Dot: What can you remember about your Montessori childhood?

Tazjana: I have a lot of memories from my Montessori childhood and every single one of them is dear to my heart. It would take a while to mention all of them but in general, I remember preparing every morning, feeling like I was going out to play - not go to school. Montessori taught me in a way that made learning feel more like playing. They made learning fun! I would go to school excited for the day ahead as it was filled with building blocks, sandboxes, painting, library time, show and tell, running around in the playground, and even answering exciting worksheets. I remember going to a restaurant to learn about fine dining. I cried because I ate so slow; everybody else finished before me, ha, ha, ha! But even then, I still enjoyed that experience. I learned so much while having the time of my life.


Dot: Did your parents make any reference to your Montessori education while you were growing up?

Tazjana: My parents have always taken pride in the fact that I started learning and still continue to learn in a nonconventional way. They believe I have Montessori to thank for this. While they do place value on grades and such, they always want to make sure that I approach everything I do with a curious mind and a passionate heart. They didn’t pressure or police my sisters and me. Thus, we never placed too much pressure on ourselves to be whatever society expects us to be and allowed ourselves to drift towards what moves us. We developed a love for other aspects of learning such as music and the arts. I must say, all those acting and dancing performances in Montessori were really great experiences that inculcated culture in us.


Dot: What are your interests or passions?

Tazjana: I love writing. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I write short stories, poems, etc. I admit that for quite some time, as I grew up, I pushed it aside and turned to writing research papers and journals instead, ha, ha, ha! However, the passion for writing is always there. I also enjoy a lot of sports. I am a big basketball and football fan. I used to play, but health concerns have since prevented me from playing. I remain an avid sports fan. I just love discovering new things - may it be about food, places, or people. I love hearing people’s stories and finding out ways to make a difference in their lives.


Dot: In terms of career, advocacy, mission, or education, are you now doing what you really love? Can you tell me about it?

Tazjana: Yes, absolutely. I recently graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. I envision myself being an agent for change in the mental health aspect of our country. I’m currently working as a psychologist in training in a Psychology center in Manila and would like to specialize in training and doing therapy on kids and adolescents. I guess it could be seen as both my career and advocacy. I know the space for growth is still big and I have a long way to go but I have a sanguine view to all of it. I love children and I believe their critical years should be given the utmost attention. I want to guide them as they grow up and their mental health is my main concern. I am passionate about this and I believe this is where I’m meant to be.


Dot: What wonderful things are you seeing in the world now?

Tazjana: To be quite honest, one would have to exert a bit of mental effort to see wonderful things in the world right now especially since bad news seem to be coming from all fronts. I’m chagrined every time I see hateful acts especially when the media magnifies them. However, there are little joys and victories that are worth noting. I believe, despite the seemingly bigger divide in the world now, there are people who continue to fight for other people’s rights, may it be for men, women, LGBT, people of a different race and/or religion. The voice of judgment, discrimination, and violence has been loud, but more recently, the voice of love and acceptance is becoming increasingly louder. Only a number of people are blind sheep running toward a cliff. The rest of us are fighting until the end until love and acceptance is the norm. This strengthens my faith in humanity.


Dot: Given a chance to be a world leader, what would be your greatest work? Why?

Tazjana: My interest in mental health sprung from my concern for children. For me, it has and will always be for the children. Therefore, I will consider it my greatest work if I am able to give each child a home, proper nourishment, a caring family, and the assurance of education. If not all, as many as I will be able to. Children’s mental health is greatly influenced and shaped by the things around them. If I will be able to make these factors as stable as possible for them, then I will be happy.


Dot: If the universe gave you $500,000 next week, how will you use it?

Tazjana: First and foremost, I would give a good part of all that money to my parents. Who I am and whatever I have achieved in my life is greatly because of them. They deserve all the comforts of the world so if I can give them that, I would do so in a heartbeat. I would also help my siblings with whatever they may need. Basically, family comes first for me. Secondly, I would invest in a good home, a car, the necessities of life. It has been a dream of mine to build my own home. I would invest the rest in a Psychological clinic for therapy and assessment and devote the rest of my life to seeing this clinic grow. This is my goal in life and I would love to see it come to fruition.


Dot: What message can you give to parents? Educators? Leaders? Young people?

Tazjana: There is so much power in your hands. I implore you to use it wisely. Please cultivate the culture of education in whatever way, shape or form that may take. Educate the future generation because there is no greater gift one can receive than education. This is every individual’s greatest tool in creating a good future for themselves. It will forever be in their arsenal. This is also what will create a more united and peaceful world. When people are educated, when they are given the ability to discern and take responsibility for their words and actions, they are able to see things outside of their own line of sight. Thus, they are able to practice open-mindedness and empathy. We need more empathy. It’s humanity’s last line of defense from the horrors of this world. It will make the world a better and safer place to live in. Educate. Empathize. Coexist.

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Tazjana, or Tanya to her friends, can be contacted via

Email: tzjnlebrilla@yahoo.com

Twitter: toitanya

Instagram: tzjnlbrll

"MONERGY = Money + Energy" - Danielle Alexandria

(This blog is 18th of a long series of profiles on friends and acquaintances I have met in my life journey. I invited them to share my spot because I believe in synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are parts of the whole, and together we are indeed great!)

(Photo by Steve Blackburn of YYZ Events)

As a life coach gearing up for professional and purposive coaching, I had an unresolved, uncomfortable idea about charging money for my service. But because coaches need to be coached, too, I opened myself to coaching by Danielle last year. Afterwards, I wrote a testimonial of her. Here’s a portion of what I wrote:

“I resonated with her immediately; she’s deeply intuitive, very intelligent, and masterful yet relaxed. She was firm without being pushy, provocative in her inquiry, and highly organized in how she conducted our sessions. She “walked” me through a list of statements about money, wealth, freedom, security, and self-worth. She gave me a homework that allowed me to dive deeper into my mindset about money vis-à-vis self-worth, to as far back as I can remember. It was a homework that manifested as specific situations from October 2016 to January 2017 to drive in the lessons that my soul was supposed to learn regarding attachments and non-attachments. It was a homework that, because of my willingness to be “wrong,” led me to the past to undo several “wrongs.” Now I feel “right” about the present and the future. As Danielle offered more stimulating questions, I became even clearer in my realizations and more aligned in body, mind, and spirit.

My dynamics with money and energy exchange are now freer, more expansive, and more inclusive. I now feel empowered to give and receive in joyful balance in my life coaching business. The impact and relevance of Danielle’s financial coaching can best be summed up by my favorite takeaway:

MONERGY = Money + Energy

A powerful word from a powerful coach!”

Are you interested to know more about Danielle? Read on.

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Interests and Motivation
I am naturally driven to actualize human potential, and that means I love seeking truth. To me, truth is freedom. Truth is abundance. Truth is faith. Truth is power. Truth is bliss. Truth is wholeness. And yes, the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off!

It starts with listening to your inner voice and intuition, and extends to questioning what we have been taught as a society. It means having the courage to face your shadow side and heal yourself, with beautiful compassion and loving sensitivity. Truth is knowing yourself, what your sacred purpose is, and honouring that above what others ask of you. It is especially doing so in the presence of your own big fear!

The rewards are so worth it. When we accept that the world is based on the balanced polarity of light and dark, we no longer fight against the natural order of things. That frees up a whole lot of energy for other things. We can live as grounded, healthy, integrated beings, and when we do that while also connected to the glory of the divine, bliss is the result. Ultimately, this sets us free to feel our own love and in turn, love others unconditionally.

What motivates me to pursue this path? My honest answer is childhood trauma, and I just feel and know it is my soul’s purpose. I also don’t want to run from myself anymore. So part of it is finally facing what I’ve been doing most of my life. At the same time, I recognize that if life was just dandy, I would not have developed this unstoppable drive to heal, understand, help others do the same, and become my full potential in this lifetime. I feel gratitude for my experiences, and where they have led me. I know I couldn’t get there without them.


Life Lessons
I lived most of my life in my rational head/ego – all left-brain. This allowed me to avoid facing my repressed emotional pain, and I convinced myself I was successful in life because I could “achieve” things. Boy did I have it down! Then after a devastating break-up in 2014, I decided I needed to address my inability to be with my difficult emotions. While I was able to process some of the pain, I wasn’t truly ready and entered a two-year new age junkie period where I really lived in the clouds. I thought I was spiritual! Ha! I became addicted to the dopamine high of continually seeking joy and only reaching for love and light, and as you might have guessed, I was the complete opposite of grounded!

After swinging back and forth so extremely, I’ve learned that one must be careful not to live in either plane exclusively – life is not all or nothing. Feeling great is wonderful. But painful challenges are what create and shape our character, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and depth. Trying to avoid them by seeking positivity 100% of the time is naïve and will not lead to true spiritual growth. Eventually, your pain will surface to be healed. I know this from experience. I now believe that to face and transcend our pain is the most spiritual thing of all, because we remove all that is in the way to love.

Having studied and followed many different teachers, I now honour the voice of my heart above anyone else. Not even my own ego runs the show anymore – it’s not the truth. The mind will always try to find something to fix, but the heart is the source of true wisdom and love for each of us.


Outer and Inner Changes
Many people are awakening from the old paradigms and conditioning on this planet. We are questioning what we have been taught, and are seeking more freedom and truth. We are outgrowing the black and white roles that have defined men and women for centuries. We are making more responsible choices, both individually and collectively. I love that this is the age of information because now millions of people have access to knowledge and resources that were once reserved for only the elite few. As a result, our development as a species has accelerated dramatically over the past few decades. We each have much more power and choice than previous generations. I see more and more people living life on their terms, and coming together in loving, supportive, inclusive ways. I think our future is bright.

We have all heard that the only constant in life is change. I have a daily heart practice where I connect with the wisdom of my heart – to heal, to surrender, and to feel love. This helps me to let go of old pain so I may be present in the now. I try to anticipate where we are going. While I do not watch the news or TV, I am plugged in with more conscious sources of information, and I travel globally which exposes me personally to what’s happening in the world. Aside from this, I believe it comes back to having a solid foundation within yourself – a healed root chakra if you will, so you know you can handle whatever comes. I’d be fooling myself if I said mine was perfect though. It’s a continual progression, and I trust that life only ever gives you what you are ready for. This has created real inner security and a commitment to loving myself no matter what happens.


Instant $500,000
I am a Financial Abundance Coach, so I have a specific plan with regards to growing my wealth. My answer is specific to my goals, risk tolerance, knowledge, and investing experience, so it may not be appropriate for everyone.

I would do the following:
-invest $50K buying cryptocurrencies (long term hold of actual currency – bitcoin and ethereum)
-trade $50K in a variety of cryptocurrencies (short term profiting of swings – there are over 800 digital currencies)
-trade $65K in non-dividend stocks (short term profiting of swings)
-save $50K in cash
-spend $10K
-set aside $200K to profit in a coming real estate crash (yep, it’s going to happen!)
-give $50K to family as gifts
-philanthropy – donate $15K to different causes near and dear to my heart
-microfinance – lend $10K in small loans to people who need them in 3rd world countries (for example through the KIVA organization)


Money and Freedom
Since I work with abundance, I would like people to know that money is not bad. Money is a neutral energy that comes from the spiritual Universe. It is a tool that facilitates the full knowing and expression of your true self, and that is the most important thing in life. If you have negative beliefs towards money, this reflects society’s conditioning and limitations, and it is time for these to be lifted. That’s why seeking the truth is so important. It’s safe and healthy to desire wealth. Money brings freedom and living life on your terms. Everyone deserves to live their dreams, whatever those are for you.

My goal is to help 100,000 people become financially empowered. I do this by helping my clients to release all that is in the way of their natural abundance, both psychologically and emotionally. While the right mindset is critical, it is not enough. You must also learn how money works. Having worked in the financial industry for 12 years, unfortunately there’s a lot of fear, intimidation, and misunderstanding at play. I am passionate about teaching unbiased, honest financial education, because this is what is needed to transform our lives economically. This knowledge, combined with learning the beliefs and habits of conscious self-made millionaires, will enable you to create wealth and freedom for the rest of your life.


If you are interested in changing your relationship with money, I would love to help you on your journey. You can book a complimentary 30 minute consultation to learn more at www.DanielleAlexandria.com. You can also reach me via email at: Danielle@DanielleAlexandria.com or here on Facebook, @Danielle Alexandria.

To your wealth and freedom!

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I highly recommend Danielle to topnotch leaders and coaches who are in the process of finding congruence in their spiritual and material beliefs; to powerful and open thinkers who seek to fine-tune their relationship with wealth and abundance, and to influential people who are in the business of shaping hearts and minds towards a cooperative, global society.