Hi beautiful soul,
There’s a quiet magic in the words, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” They’re simple, almost too simple. But don’t let that fool you—those four sacred phrases carry the weight of lifetimes and the power to change everything.
They’re part of an ancient Hawaiian healing practice called Ho’oponopono, a path of deep emotional clearing, forgiveness, and returning to divine alignment. And for me, it’s become one of the most profound healing tools I’ve ever experienced.
My Journey with Ho’oponopono
I was first introduced to Ho’oponopono back in 2016, but to be honest, I didn’t fully understand it at the time. I tucked it away in the back of my mind, not realizing it would re-emerge years later—right when I needed it most.
Fast forward to May of this year. I came across a local Ho’oponopono group healing workshop at Alchemy Wellness Center. Something stirred in me—a whisper of curiosity and remembrance. I signed up last minute, and I am so glad I did.
That 90-minute session cracked open something I didn’t even realize I’d been tightly holding onto for decades. Tears poured out—tears of pain from childhood experiences with my mom… unresolved emotions about my dad, who’s no longer with us… heavy feelings from my relationship with my husband… and even deep sorrow I’d carried toward myself.
As I spoke the words—“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”—I could feel a shift. Like I was finally giving myself permission to let go. To stop carrying the weight of past wounds. I left that workshop feeling lighter. Clearer. More whole.
That experience led me to connect with the instructor for private sessions, and oh… what a powerful journey it’s been. Each session peels back another layer. More tears, yes—but also more clarity, compassion, and peace than I thought possible.
During one of those sessions, I remembered a book I had bought long ago but never read: Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More by Dr. Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. Something told me it was time.
So I picked it up—and wow. What I read landed so deeply. Every page felt like a sacred reminder of the healing I was walking through. Zero Limits gave me language, context, and real-life examples of how powerful Ho’oponopono truly is—not just as a spiritual tool, but as a way of being.
What Is Zero Limits All About?
Zero Limits shares the true story of Dr. Hew Len, a therapist who helped heal an entire ward of criminally insane patients—not by speaking with them, diagnosing them, or trying to change them—but by taking full responsibility for their presence in his life.
He used Ho’oponopono as a tool to clean his own subconscious memories. And as he did, patients improved. Some were taken off meds. Others were released. Staff who had dreaded coming to work noticed the energy shifting. It sounds unbelievable—but the deeper message is this:
When we clean what’s within us, the energy around us transforms.
It’s not about blame. It’s about radical responsibility. It’s about healing from the inside out.
The Power of the Four Phrases
Ho’oponopono means “to make right.” It’s an invitation to release what no longer serves, to return to peace, and to remember that everything is interconnected. The modern, self-directed version—like what I practiced in the workshop and now in private sessions—centers on repeating:
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
Each phrase carries deep medicine:
- “I’m sorry” — acknowledging the energy or wound within.
- “Please forgive me” — opening to release and grace.
- “Thank you” — honoring the process, even the pain.
- “I love you” — returning to truth, to Source, to self.
I’ve found myself repeating these words in everyday moments: when I feel frustrated, when I feel heavy, when old memories arise, or when I notice tension in my body or spirit. And slowly, gently, I keep coming back to center.
How It Shows Up in My Life and Work
As a doula and holistic guide, I hold space for a lot of emotions—mine and others’. Ho’oponopono has become a quiet undercurrent in how I serve. Sometimes, in the stillness of a birth space or in a postpartum check-in, I’ll silently speak the words as I support a mama. It clears my energy so I can truly be present. It helps me hold space without absorbing what isn’t mine.
I’ve also found it especially powerful in motherhood and marriage. When things feel tense, I begin within.
“I’m sorry for the part of me that needs healing. Please forgive me as I choose peace. Thank you for the grace. I love you.”
It doesn’t fix everything instantly. But it softens things. It opens space for healing—often in ways I didn’t expect.
You Can Start Too
You don’t need a formal session or even full understanding to begin using Ho’oponopono. Just a willingness to sit with your heart.
✨ Try repeating the four phrases as a morning ritual.
✨ Use them when you feel triggered, overwhelmed, or self-critical.
✨ Speak them over old wounds, difficult relationships, or stuck emotions.
✨ Write them in your journal. Whisper them before bed. Let them become part of your rhythm.
And if you feel called to dive deeper, I highly recommend reading Zero Limits. Let it stir something in you the way it did for me.
A Return to Love
This healing journey hasn’t been linear, but it’s been real and raw and sacred. I’m still releasing. Still forgiving. Still remembering that peace isn’t something we chase—it’s something we return to, one “I love you” at a time.
If you’re holding heavy emotions, or just feel out of alignment, I hope my story gives you permission to pause, breathe, and begin clearing what no longer belongs in your arms or on your shoulders.
You are worthy of peace. You are ready for release.
Let the healing begin with four simple, powerful words.
“I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.”
With so much love,
Jamie
Labor of Love for Birth & Beyond
Ready to explore this practice more deeply?
If you’re curious about connecting with the same wonderful instructor who guided me, you can find her through her Facebook group where she shares insights, upcoming events, and heart-centered support for those on a healing journey. Just search for Hitha’s Harmony Hub or send me a message and I’ll point you in the right direction 💜
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