Ho’oponopono: a method of healing developed by a Hawaiian therapist by the name of Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. He “cured” an entire ward of criminally insane patients having never met them or spent time with them in the same room. The story goes, he reviewed each of the patients’ files and then healed them by first healing himself.

Why would anything we work on within, have an effect on our outside world? If you think about it, everything that happens to you, you experience it in your mind. Everything you see, hear, every person you meet passes through your mind. You only think it’s “out there” and because of this, you hold no responsibility to it. When, in fact, you are responsible for everything you think and everything you give your attention to.

Forgiveness: The Hawaiian Way

There are four steps to this method, and the order is not essential. Repentance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Love are the forces at work that can transform your feelings around a particular relationship.

The best part is this can be done in the quiet of your own home, without assistance from no one, and you can even say the words in your head rather than out loud. The power is surrendering yourself to the feelings that come up and allow them to pass through you – raising your vibrations and capacity to be open to love and forgiveness within your heart.

Four Steps to Forgiveness

Step 1: I AM SORRY
As I previously mentioned, you are responsible for everything in your mind, even if it seems to be “out there.” It’s often the “inside” problems that show up in our outside world, so keep that in mind. So, choose something to be sorry for that you know you’ve caused yourself – start there. Do you have an addiction, a weight issue, or other health problems? Maybe you have anger issues? Start there by stating what you’re sorry for as a phrase: I am responsible for [the issue] in my life, and I’m sorry that I have caused this.

Step 2: PLEASE FORGIVE ME
PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Say it over and over and mean it. It will feel awkward, but don’t worry about who you’re asking – just ask! Remember how sorry you are from step one as you ask for forgiveness.

Step 3: THANK YOU
Say “THANK YOU.” It doesn’t matter who or what you’re giving thanks to. For example, thank your body for all it does for you or yourself for being the best version of yourself you can be. Thank God or the Universe, if that’s more your thing. Keep saying THANK YOU and feel it with every ounce of your body.

Step 4: I LOVE YOU
Say I LOVE YOU – to your challenges, to the thing that has you feeling caught up in negativity. You can also say I LOVE YOU to your body, to God (the Universe, if that’s more your thing), to the air you breathe, and to the home that shelters you. Say it over and over. Mean it. Feel it. There is nothing as powerful as Love.

When I initially learned about ho’oponopono, I learned to do this practice alongside EFT (or tapping as you may know it to be called). It’s come to light, in recent years, that tapping isn’t actually a necessary component of the practice, which means – this is easily accessible in the quiet of your mind no matter where you are. Stuck in traffic? You’ve got nothing but time, my friend, and what a fitting situation to give love to, right? Because we all know road rage is real and one can only imagine the blood pressure of some people who take it too far!

Take a few minutes to watch the video below that helps explain how ho’oponopono works, how this physician uses it in her practice, and how it may help you.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xun-vPTTOL4[/embedyt]

I think what this really comes down to is a willingness and openness to be a witness to, be present with, and give attention to the emotional upset within our bodies. Providing love and care to what pains us and lovingly hold it in our hearts and releasing it with a new perspective is a way to heal and forgive ourselves – for ourselves.