About Power of Listening
At the Power of Listening Foundation, we are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves to be heard. Our mission is to create a world where listening is recognized as the most powerful form of acknowledgment and a fundamental tool for healing and transformation. Founded by Lalita Lidia Mahrus and Jacek Poleszak, our organization is built on the personal experiences and profound insights of our founders, who have both traversed paths marked by deep personal challenges and transformation.
Mission and Vision
Our vision is to be a beacon of hope and healing, transforming lives globally through the power of listening. We envision a world where every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has access to a compassionate ear and the support they need to thrive. We strive to cultivate a society rooted in empathy, where personal connections empower individuals to overcome challenges, rediscover their strengths, and lead lives filled with purpose and connection.
Core Values
Our foundation is guided by values that emphasize empathy, compassion, respect, integrity, support, listening, inclusivity, resilience, empowerment, and community. These values are woven into every aspect of our services, from direct listening sessions to community outreach programs. We uphold the power of listening not only as a tool for healing and understanding but as a catalyst for global change and personal renewal.
Our Approach
Power of Listening offers a variety of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of those seeking support. Whether through chat, audio, or video sessions, our services are designed to provide a safe space for individuals to express themselves authentically and without judgment. We respond to all requests within 24 hours, emphasizing our commitment to accessibility and immediate support. While we are not a crisis intervention service, we direct those in need to appropriate crisis resources, ensuring comprehensive support for all.
Impact and Outreach
Through our dedicated network of trained listeners and our commitment to community engagement, we aim to touch lives of thousands, fostering a global community of support and understanding. Our founders, Lidia and Jacek, bring their unique life stories and professional expertise to guide our foundation, ensuring that every initiative and service is deeply aligned with our mission of empathy and empowerment.
Join Us
We invite you to learn more about our mission, use our services, or support our cause. If you know someone who could benefit, please share information about what we provide. At Power of Listening, every contribution—whether of time, expertise, or resources—makes a significant impact. Together, we can continue to spread the power of listening and make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
Founders
Adi Jacek
Co-Founder, Secretary, Listener
Co-Founder and Secretary of Power of Listening
Lalita Lidia Mahrus
Co-Founder and CEO of Power of Listening
About Lalita Lidia Mahrus
My name is Lalita Lidia Mahrus. I am originally from Poland and currently reside in the United States. I am a proud mother of two sons, a fulfilled life partner, a devoted daughter, and a loving sister. Above all, I am a lifelong student of the present moment and the lessons life has to offer.
My Mission
My journey has been one of transformation, healing, and discovery. My mission is to Protect, Heal, and Transform lives by touching hearts, opening minds, and fostering understanding. I offer a space filled with Presence, Healing, Love, Trust, Support, Listening, Breathing, Laughing, Crying, and Nurturing. My goal is to guide individuals toward their inner selves so they can reconnect with their authentic being and translate these discoveries into peaceful decisions and fulfilling lives.
My Story of Survival and Transformation
Empathy has been my companion since childhood, and it took me 30 years to recognize this sensitivity as a powerful gift. Born a 2-pound premature baby facing numerous disabilities, I was a fighter from the start. My journey has been marked by overcoming significant challenges, including being hard of hearing, which steered me towards my true calling—desiring to hear and understand others, especially before they lose hope.
I have faced numerous adversities from the beginning. Bullied in school, I grew up feeling unloved, abandoned, and alone. These feelings followed me into my teenage years, where I carried the belief of “not being good enough.” At 16, I attempted my first suicide after my first heartbreak and prolonged depression. At 19, left alone and pregnant, I tried again. During that darkest hour, a God-sent EMT worker in the ambulance wiped my tears and told me I would be okay. That moment of kindness became a source of inspiration for me.
For a brief time, life seemed better. I got married, opened a hair salon, and started a family. But beneath the surface, undercurrents of fear persisted as I experienced emotional, financial, sexual, and physical abuse within the marriage. This led to my third and most pivotal mental breakdown in 2012. Nothing I knew could help me escape an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Faced with these personal challenges, I began to question, “Who are we?” and “What are we here for?” I pondered whether my life had any meaning and why I was experiencing so much suffering. I desperately sought a way out.
It was at this crucial juncture that I encountered Ewelina Stepnicka. From the first meeting, I felt an immediate and profound connection. Ewelina helped me see my experiences as miracles and discoveries rather than burdens. She guided me to cultivate self-love and self-compassion, and I learned how to befriend my inner critic, transforming it from an adversary into an ally.
My Turning Point
A moment of desperation led to a profound personal transformation. In an intimate setting, which I now describe as “on my knees, with a black eye, in a dark closet,” I let out a desperate whisper: “If you are there, if anyone can hear me, please, I beg you, I don’t need anything else—all I need is peace of mind.” I continued, “I understand I must live—I have kids, and I will not attempt anymore, but please, give me a break from this hell in my head…even for a moment.”
After a pause, I shyly added, “…and perhaps, just for once, I wish to feel loved.” At that time, my desires seemed so trivial compared to what I ultimately received. I longed to be loved by a man, to gain self-respect, dignity, and to feel calmer and stronger. I did not realize then that this experience would be a turning point in my life, nor could I foresee what life had in store for me. It was then that I began to realize that there is no greater value than taking care of my mental health.
My Journey to Healing
In 2013, I discovered yoga, a practice that brought tears of relief and a sense of home I had been searching for all my life. Within six months, I knew it would shape my future. This path eventually led me to India in 2014, where I met my lifelong master, Krishna Prakash. My time there was transformative, offering me what I call a “second life within this life.”
After years of abuse, I finally left my marriage in 2015 with nothing but my two children, a broken nose, and a deep determination to survive. Yoga provided me with significant emotional healing and a sense of peace. Seeking to complement this inner strength with physical confidence, in 2017, I opened the door to the world of martial arts, where I met my next lifelong master, Rego Sensei. Through Jukido Jujitsu, I uncovered strength, courage, and rediscovered the playful, storm-like girl I had buried deep within myself. Today I live to continuously chase her, on the mats and outside of it. Moreover, I assist my beloved master in teaching self-defense to women and children. I cherish this role, as there is no greater joy than seeing timid children enter the dojo and leave confidently, fully standing in their power!
These experiences underscored that our greatest weaknesses can become our greatest strengths. This potential, when nurtured, can blossom beyond our imagination—from mud to a lotus. Out of a woman burdened with depression and anxiety, beset by chaos in her head, I emerged as a Yoga and Meditation Teacher. This woman, who endured abuse, realized she was perpetuating that abuse on herself through the way she led her life. She masterfully berated herself with thoughts that she was “not good enough,” failed to love herself, forced herself to do things she never wanted, and lacked the courage to pursue her dreams. In fact, she never even allowed herself the time and space to discover what her dreams were. She lived far removed from her truth, fighting against her own path. Life, however, had a way of turning her around. This same woman transformed into someone who wanted to learn how to defend herself emotionally and physically, establish boundaries, and express herself directly and kindly.
My Professional Journey and Calling
For twenty years, I was a hairstylist, a role that extended far beyond cutting hair. In my salon chair, I listened to people’s life stories, acting as both psychologist and priest. I am deeply grateful to all those who entrusted me with their innermost secrets, worries, and fears. I discovered that people naturally opened up to me, particularly those in crisis, allowing themselves to be vulnerable in my presence. I learned the profound impact of simply being there.
Reflecting on my career in hair design, I realize how it prepared me to live life as an artist, enhancing my ability to empathize and advise. This background inspired me to open my own therapeutic practice, Holding Space, which incorporated Soul Talk—a technique where individuals could come in person to a safe room to express their deepest sadness. In this space, they would close their eyes, place their palms on their hearts, and have the opportunity to cry, scream, find clarity, and experience release.
The transformative experience in personal therapy paved the way for my transition to roles as a Shelter Advocate and Hotline Responder for Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Later, as a Crisis Counselor for the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, I encountered the harsh realities of violence, poverty, homelessness, criminal charges, broken families, kids deprived of childhood and dignity, moral decline, substance abuse, and mental disorders. I faced the various manifestations of mental distress—suicide, anxiety, depression, isolation, and a lack of love and connection. I witnessed firsthand the effects of technology addiction, obesity, eating disorders, body image issues, teenage self-harm, identity crises, drug use, bullying, pornography addiction, and a lack of purpose, direction, breakups, divorces, unstable relationships, violent communication, financial or health difficulties, poor self-image, and stress.
It was through Ewelina that I first met Jacek Poleszak nearly a decade ago. Over the years, we both deepened our understanding through many courses and workshops with Stepnicka and Zielinski, and in 2023, life brought us together once again. In one of our heartfelt conversations, I shared my vision of bringing the Power of Listening Foundation to life. In that moment, Jacek pledged his unwavering support, committed to helping create a healing space for all in need and spreading messages of compassion and understanding far and wide.
My Vision
People often live in a rush, overwhelmed and bottling up emotions to the extent that they go through life feeling ashamed and guilty, hiding their tragedies behind closed doors, crying into their pillows, and the next day putting on a mask pretending they have everything under control.
In my own life, I’ve felt the depths of loneliness that accompany these struggles. Many of the challenges I’ve helped others navigate are ones I’ve personally experienced. I firmly believe that no one should feel as lonely in their struggles as I once did. Every person deserves to have at least one person in their life to whom they can say anything—without limits or shame, someone they can trust, who will listen without judgment. I am here to be that person—a loving, nonjudgmental witness, a supportive hand, and a friend on the journey to self-discovery.
I value the opportunity to see, hear, and feel everyone in front of me, providing my undivided attention and care. My love for nature and silence enhances my practice of meditation and active listening. As a teacher of self-care, I continuously learn as much as I instruct. What I value most is being a compassionate, supportive friend on the journey, and an attentive listener.
Having held over 2,500 conversations with individuals in their darkest hours, I’ve found that such work isn’t draining; rather, it energizes me, aligning with my calling. It’s rewarding to end each conversation knowing that my own suffering has not been in vain, and that it has enabled me to help others grow and heal.
I am waiting for you, as you are waiting for me. Through connection, we touch each other’s hearts, and by touching our hearts, we connect to the source of existence. We touch the oneness of life, which itself is healing.
“You are not a problem to be solved. You are a miracle to be discovered.” — Ewelina Stepnicka
“In a world, the most beautiful thing is not the absence of tears, but the beauty born out of them.” — Anonymous
“We just walk each other home.” — Rumi
Adi Jacek Poleszak
Co-Founder of Power of Listening
Lost in Silence
From my earliest memories, I felt like I didn’t belong—anywhere. I couldn’t connect to what I saw and felt around me. My needs weren’t acknowledged, and, more importantly, I didn’t know how to express them in a way that others could understand or recognize as legitimate. It was as if my voice, my feelings, and my very self were invisible. This lack of acknowledgment taught me a painful but profound lesson: the power of expressing who we are and what we need.
As a child, I gave up that power—or perhaps it was taken from me. I learned to believe that others knew better, that I had no right to decide for myself, let alone express my needs. Either I couldn’t articulate myself clearly, or the world couldn’t hear me. This belief became the key I handed over, locking away my personal power and connection to myself.
In its place grew a quiet retreat from life—a shyness about expressing myself in any form, whether through words, movement, or creativity. With the loss of my voice came the loss of healthy self-esteem and the ability to build relationships, both with others and with myself. I became someone I didn’t recognize: withdrawn, uncertain, hiding behind layers of self-protection. Inside, I was sensitive but scared, constantly feeling small, unseen, and unworthy.
Despite the Struggles
Despite my inner struggles, I pursued education with determination. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering in Informatics from Pope John Paul II State Higher Vocational School in Biala Podlaska, Poland. My technical education provided me with structured thinking and problem-solving abilities—qualities that helped me navigate challenges in both life and work.
With over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of clear communication and empathy in achieving successful outcomes. While my career revolved around technical systems, I gradually realized that human systems—relationships, understanding, and connection—are equally complex and essential. These two aspects of my life, technical expertise and a growing desire for human connection, were on parallel tracks—until life made them intersect.
The Illness of Isolation
My inner struggles eventually manifested physically. In my early adulthood, I developed a severe autoimmune disease considered incurable, with no effective treatments and a grim prognosis of just two years. Life felt impossibly heavy, a barrier I couldn’t overcome. I was overwhelmed by isolation and the belief that I was fundamentally ill-equipped for life. Relationships had once seemed unattainable; now, even life itself felt beyond my grasp.
But life has a way of whispering hope into our darkest moments. My healing journey began slowly, through small acts of curiosity about myself. I started to explore who I truly was—not who I had been told to be. Meditation, mindfulness, nature, and the teachings of incredible thinkers like Gabor Maté and Marshall Rosenberg became my guides. These practices weren’t just about understanding; they were about expression—letting out what I had held inside for so long.
Over time, the impossible became possible: I healed. What was once a “terminal” illness was replaced by a renewed connection to life. But healing wasn’t just physical. It was about rediscovering my voice, my role, and my place in this world.
A Life-Changing Encounter
One of the most transformative moments of my life came when I met Ewelina Stępnicka. Ewelina is a well-known Polish coach and motivational speaker, though she prefers to be seen simply as a “friend on the journey.” She created the “Discovery” method, emphasizing that we are “a miracle to be discovered, not a problem to be fixed.”
Her unique approach profoundly reshaped how I saw myself. Through her teachings, I began to understand that healing wasn’t about fixing something broken—it was about rediscovering the person I had always been underneath the layers of fear and self-doubt. Ewelina’s presence and guidance helped me reconnect with long-buried parts of myself and sparked a process of inner transformation. I remain deeply grateful for her influence, which set the foundation for the most meaningful encounter of my life.
Discovering the Power of Listening
Meeting Lidia became the next pivotal moment in my personal and spiritual development. Through our growing friendship, I experienced the profound power of being heard—truly heard. This wasn’t about therapy or someone trying to fix me. It was about human connection. Lidia didn’t judge or offer solutions; she simply listened. Her presence gave me permission to share everything I had buried deep within, to uncover my truth without fear of criticism. That experience taught me that being heard is more than comforting—it’s life-giving.
The impact of listening and soul talk—sessions where space was held with care and openness—was so profound that it shaped my path forward. These experiences inspired me to dedicate myself to co-creating the Power of Listening Foundation alongside Lidia. Together, we’ve brought our essential skills, passions, and life lessons into this shared work. We continue to deepen our understanding and practice in the Art of Listening, Transparency, and Nonviolent Communication, believing that these are essential tools for a more connected and compassionate world.
As part of my journey, I studied under our mentor, Tomasz Zieliński, whose words, “There are no closed-off people, there are only those who have not been listened to,” resonate deeply with me. Tomasz works with children and teenagers who have lost hope and don’t want to live anymore, as well as with parents who long to reconnect with their children when all attempts at communication seem to have failed. Under his guidance, I completed courses focused on relationships, partnerships, and the profound skill of listening itself. These experiences not only strengthened my understanding but also made me more passionate and committed to helping others find connection through listening.
A Shared Mission
Today, I see the deep need we all have to be seen and heard, especially when we’ve spent years believing we’re invisible. When I reflect on my life, I see the wounds left by feeling unheard: broken relationships, physical illness, depression, addictions, homelessness, financial struggles, and profound loneliness. But I also see how being heard has been my pathway to healing, transformation, and meaning.
I bring my sensitivity, life experiences, and deep commitment to this work. I know what it’s like to feel unseen and unworthy, to sit in silence and wonder if your voice even matters. And I know the power of a simple, heartfelt conversation to change everything—to restore trust, hope, and connection, not just with others but also with yourself.
At the heart of this journey is a simple truth: when we feel heard, we feel alive. When we connect with someone who listens—not to judge or solve but simply to be present—we rediscover life’s beauty, meaning, and possibility. That’s the gift I hope to offer through the Power of Listening: a space where you can be seen, heard, and valued just as you are.
In the end, this isn’t just my story—it’s a shared human story. It’s about the profound simplicity of connection and the life-changing power of listening.
Future Plans
Empowering Through Education
Looking ahead, we plan to launch community education initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of active listening and mental health. These initiatives will engage local schools, community centers, and utilize online platforms to reach a broad audience.
Expanding Our Team
As we grow, we intend to recruit compassionate listeners who are committed to our mission. We will develop comprehensive training programs to equip our team with the skills necessary for providing empathetic and effective support. If you are interested in working with us or volunteering, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us to express your interest and learn more about the opportunities available.
Building Supportive Networks
We will organize support group sessions to provide safe spaces for individuals to share their experiences and heal together. These groups will cater to diverse needs, including those undergoing significant life transitions. Regular meetings will ensure ongoing support and community building.
Interactive Learning and Engagement
Our workshops and events will offer hands-on learning experiences in active listening, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. These interactive sessions are designed to strengthen community ties and enhance personal and professional communication skills.
Extending Our Reach Online
To make our resources more accessible, we will enhance our digital presence. This will include hosting webinars, creating online content, and engaging with our community through social media to provide support and information remotely.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
We are excited about the future and invite you to stay connected as our plans unfold. Your interest and awareness are vital as we expand our services and continue to make a meaningful impact in the community. Click below to see how you can support us further!
