The Power of Forgiveness: How Ho'oponopono Can Set You Free

Release the Weight of the Past and Open Your Heart to Abundance

Have you ever felt stuck replaying the same hurt, betrayal, or disappointment over and over? Like a broken record in your mind, the same painful memories surface again and again, keeping you trapped in anger, resentment, or sadness?

Maybe it's that relationship that ended badly, leaving you feeling unworthy of love. Perhaps it's something your parents said or did years ago that still stings today. Or maybe it's the harsh words of a former friend, boss, or partner that continue to echo in your heart.

If you're nodding along, please know this: you are not alone, and you are not broken. What you're experiencing is deeply human. And today, I want to share with you one of the most powerful healing practices I know — Ho'oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian prayer of forgiveness that can truly set you free.

🚧 Why Forgiveness Feels So Hard

Before we dive into the practice, let's be honest about why forgiveness can feel nearly impossible. There are so many misconceptions about what forgiveness actually means, and these misunderstandings keep us stuck.

What Forgiveness is NOT:

❌ Condoning their behaviour: Forgiveness doesn't mean you're saying what they did was okay.

❌ Forgetting what happened: You don't need to pretend it never occurred.

❌ Reconciling with them: Forgiveness doesn't require rebuilding the relationship.

❌ Being weak or naive: It's actually one of the strongest things you can do.

What Forgiveness IS:

✨ Releasing yourself from the prison of resentment

✨ Choosing your peace over their power

✨ Setting yourself free to create new, beautiful experiences

✨ Reclaiming your energy for what truly matters

💔 The Hidden Cost of Unforgiveness

"When you hold a grudge, who are you really hurting?"

Science shows that holding onto resentment floods your body with cortisol and stress hormones. Your nervous system stays in fight-or-flight mode, affecting your sleep, digestion, immune system, and mental clarity. Meanwhile, the person you're angry with is living their life, completely unaware of the suffering you're carrying.

Emotionally, unforgiveness keeps you tied to the past, unable to fully open your heart to new love, abundance, or joy. Energetically, it lowers your vibration, blocking the very things you desire most.

🌺 The Four Sacred Phrases of Ho'oponopono

Ho'oponopono (pronounced "ho-oh-pono-pono") is an ancient Hawaiian practice that means "to make right" or "to rectify." At its heart are four simple yet profound phrases that can heal generations of pain and trauma.

💜

"I'm Sorry"

Taking responsibility for your part in creating or attracting this experience into your life.

🙏

"Please Forgive Me"

Asking for release from the energy and karma of this situation.

💫

"Thank You"

Expressing gratitude for the lesson, the growth, and the opportunity to heal.

✨

"I Love You"

Returning to the highest vibration — love — and sending it to the situation and all involved.

🏥 Dr. Hew Len's Incredible Story

The power of Ho'oponopono became world-famous through Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, a Hawaiian psychologist who worked at Hawaii State Hospital's ward for the criminally insane in the 1980s.

Instead of seeing patients directly, Dr. Hew Len would sit in his office, review their files, and practice Ho'oponopono — taking 100% responsibility for their condition and repeating the four phrases. He did this for every patient, every day.

The results were miraculous. Over three years, patients who had been violent and heavily medicated began to heal. Some were taken off medication. Others were released. The entire atmosphere of the ward transformed from one of fear and aggression to peace and healing.

The most incredible part? Dr. Hew Len never directly treated these patients. He simply cleaned and cleared his own energy in relation to them. As he healed his inner world, their outer world changed.

🔬 The Science and Spirituality Behind Ho'oponopono

Ho'oponopono works on the principle that healing starts with you. We can only change ourselves, not others. But when we take 100% responsibility for our experience and clear our own energy, we create a ripple effect that impacts everyone around us.

From a spiritual perspective, Ho'oponopono recognizes that we're all connected. Every person in your life is there for a reason — to teach you something, heal something, or help you grow. When you heal your relationship with them energetically, you heal a part of yourself.

Scientifically, the practice shifts your nervous system from stress to calm, releases feel-good chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin, and literally rewires your brain's neural pathways. You're training your mind to respond with love instead of react with fear.

🧘‍♀️ How to Practice Ho'oponopono: A Step-by-Step Guide

Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted. Sit or lie down in a relaxed position.
Bring to mind the person or situation you want to heal. It could be someone who hurt you, someone you hurt, or even yourself.
Allow yourself to feel the emotions that arise. Don't suppress anger, sadness, or hurt. These feelings need to be acknowledged before they can be released.
Repeat the four phrases with genuine intention:
"I'm sorry."
"Please forgive me."
"Thank you."
"I love you."
Allow tears if they come. These are "tears of joy" — your body's way of releasing old emotional energy and trauma.
Practice daily until you feel the shift. Some situations heal in one session; others may take weeks or months of consistent practice.

🌟 What to Expect During Your Practice

Emotional release — tears, sighs, or deep breathing
Physical sensations — tingling, warmth, or lightness in your body
Mental clarity — insights or new perspectives about the situation
A sense of peace or relief, even if subtle at first
Improved relationships, sometimes in unexpected ways
More energy and vitality as blocked emotions are released
Greater abundance flowing into your life as your vibration rises

💫 Real-Life Applications: Where to Use Ho'oponopono

💔 Past Relationships

Heal the pain from ex-partners, difficult family relationships, or friendships that ended badly. Clear the energy so you can attract healthier connections.

🪞 Self-Forgiveness

Practice Ho'oponopono with yourself for past mistakes, regrets, or self-judgment. Often, the person we need to forgive most is ourselves.

💰 Money Blocks

Forgive yourself for past financial mistakes, poor decisions, or times when you felt lack. Clear the energy around money to invite abundance.

✨ Body Image

Practice with your body for any perceived imperfections or health challenges. Send love and gratitude to every part of yourself.

🎯 Career Setbacks

Heal resentment toward former bosses, colleagues, or situations where you felt undervalued or mistreated in your professional life.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Patterns

Break generational cycles of pain, dysfunction, or limiting beliefs passed down through your family lineage.

🌈 Beyond Forgiveness: The Ripple Effect of Healing

When you practice Ho'oponopono consistently, something beautiful happens. You stop being a victim of your past and become the conscious creator of your future.

Forgiveness opens space in your heart for new experiences. It raises your vibration, making you a magnet for love, abundance, and joy. The energy you were using to hold onto resentment is now available for building the life you desire.

Remember from our previous conversations about energy and frequency? When you clear old emotional baggage through forgiveness, you literally tune into a higher radio station — one that broadcasts peace, prosperity, and possibility.

💜 Your Invitation to Practice

Choose one person or situation to work with this week.

Start with something that feels manageable — not the deepest trauma, but perhaps a smaller hurt or disappointment.

Practice the four phrases daily for just 5-10 minutes. Notice how your energy shifts. Pay attention to your dreams, your mood, and any changes in your relationships.

Be patient with yourself. Healing is not linear, and some wounds need time and repeated practice to fully clear.

The Ultimate Act of Self-Love

Forgiveness is not weakness — it's the ultimate act of self-love.

When you forgive, you're not doing it for them. You're doing it for you. You're choosing freedom over bondage, peace over pain, love over fear.

You have the power to release what no longer serves you and create space for what your heart truly desires. This is how you align your mind, emotions, and energy to create the life you deserve.

Remember: You can align your mind, emotions and energy and create the life you desire.And you can delve more into this by joining my FREE masterclass The Alignment Blueprint

🌺 I'm so proud of you for being here, for doing this work, for choosing healing over hurt. You are worthy of all the love, joy, and abundance life has to offer.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you." 💜

Much love & Namaste