Ho’oponopono – A New kind of Stress Reduction
(Written by Steffi Black)
I am going to share with you the spiritual practice of Ho’oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian problem solving method. It can help you learn how to accept what is happening in your life at any given moment, and even create flow around you.
The lessons of stress ~ surrender and trust
“The purpose of life is to be restored back to Love, moment to moment. To fulfill this purpose, the individual must acknowledge that he is 100 percent responsible for creating his life the way it is. He must come to see that it is his thoughts that create his life the way it is moment to moment. The problems are not people, places, and situations but rather the thoughts of them. He must come to appreciate that there is no such thing as “out there.” ― Ihaleakala Hew Len
The philosophy of this practice is that stressful situations are happening because there is a lesson that hasn’t yet been learned, or there is something that needs to heal and to be let go of in order to move forward. Everything that happens to us is an opportunity to heal and ‘clean’ so that we can erase the memories and triggers that continually reoccur. Sometimes over thinking a problem creates a ‘monkey mind’ loop of worry and anxiety which often makes the situation worse. The Ho’oponopono method uses the following statement, to be said out loud or silently, “Forgive me. I’m sorry. I love you. Thank you,” to help you dissolve the upset and begin to erase the problem.
This act of ‘cleaning’ is the act of trusting Divinity to offer a solution that is not necessarily of our own design or from our intellect. It is a form of true surrender and trust. The recitation of this Ho’oponopono mantra can help us to stop ‘thinking,’ let go, and accept whatever it is that needs to happen. In other words, it allows us to receive guidance from the Divine.
The role of forgiveness
Ho’oponopono is a beautiful way of asking forgiveness for anything and everything that happens. It helps us to truly embrace the joy and wonder that is our birthright in this lifetime.
Forgiving others for what they do or say is a powerful way to release inner anger and tension — two big stress triggers. Forgiveness allows us to heal and to create more peaceful exchanges in our lives. We don’t walk in another person’s shoes, it is their own unique journey.
Here’s a simple experiment to try sometime during your day: The next time you feel irritated, try thinking the words “Forgive me. I’m sorry. I love you. Thank you,” or even simply,”I love you.” You will find the difference in the energy exchange profound. As with any meaningful change, regular and consistent practice is the key.
You clean your body every day; simply think of Ho’oponopono as a way to daily clean your mind, reduce stress, and help heal yourself and what is happening around you. In the words of Dr. Hew Len, “When we are willing to take 100% responsibility and let go, what is right and perfect unfolds.”
It would take more than one article to explain Ho’oponopono in its entirety, and the power of this practice, but you can begin by reading books on the subject, including Zero Limits by Joe Vitale.
You can also visit the website of the school that teaches Ho’oponopono around the world here: https://www.self-i-dentity-through-hooponopono.com
Former Global T.V. Media Personality, and featured author in Ready, Aim, Thrive – An Amazon best seller on Discovering How To Flourish and Prosper from Today’s top experts, Steffi Black is a Life/Career Coach who works with adults in transition and young people at a crossroads. She is the founder of ‘Spread the Kindness’ a curriculum and program for schools and corporations to create a more caring and connected workplace. https://www.steffiblackcoaching.com
