Ho'Oponopono: A Practice Of Release

Many of us carry emotions, beliefs, memories, and experiences in the body long after they have served their purpose.In this talk, Brenda explores Ho'oponopono as a practice of release, offering a compassionate way to acknowledge what is present, soften the inner critic, and create space for healing. Through simple guidance and real-life examples, you'll learn how the four phrases of Ho'oponopono can support acceptance, grace, and emotional freedom.Perfect for anyone feeling weighed down, stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready to let go of what they're carrying.

Transcript

Ho'oponopono is often described as a Hawaiian practice of forgiveness. But over time, I've come to experience it as something even deeper. For me, Ho'oponopono is one of my favorite healing tools because I don't use it to change another person. I use it to release what my body is still holding. For me, Ho'oponopono is not about excusing someone's behavior. Pretending something didn't hurt. Or forcing forgiveness before I'm ready. It's not about the other person. It's about me and what I'm still holding on to, Often without realizing it. Many of us carry experiences long after the moment has passed. An unkind comment. Disappointment. A betrayal. A friendship that didn't. Go the way we hope. We may think we moved on. Yet our bodies continue to hold the imprint of those experiences. Because we never fully allowed ourselves to feel them, Process them, And release them. The hurt. The judgment. The fear. The disappointment. The resentment. When I practice Ho'oponopono. I'm often speaking to the part of myself that is still carrying those experiences. My body is still carrying the hurt, The judgment, The fear, The disappointment. The resentment. From that experience. And when it surfaces, I see it as an opportunity to listen to what is asking to be acknowledged and released. It's about meeting what remains within me. With awareness. Compassion. Acceptance. And grace. So that healing can unfold naturally. In the next few minutes, I'll share a few everyday examples of how this practice can be used in your life. To transform your relationship with yourself. So the first example is that unkind comment that stays with you. We've all had it where someone says something critical. Dismissed us, Or hurtful. And maybe it happened yesterday. Five years ago? Or maybe it was said 30 years ago. Yet your body still reacts when you think about it. It tightens. You brace. You replay the conversation in your head. Feel all the feelings again. And in this instance, Hoʻoponopono becomes, What am I still holding from this experience? It's not, How do I change them? Or they made me so mad on allowing that story to continue. To flow. It's flipping to, Okay, How do I release what I'm carrying? And for me. This is where Ho'oponopono becomes a beautiful and powerful practice. Rather than focusing on the other person. I turn my attention inward. And speak to the part of myself that is still holding the hurt. The disappointment. Or whatever the feeling is. It might sound something like this. The four phrases are, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you and thank you. But I turn it into a conversation that first time. And it goes something like this. I'm sorry that was said to you. I'm sorry you didn't have the space, The support. Or even the understanding you needed at that time to process what was said to you. Please forgive me. For not realizing the depth of how much this hurt. For glossing over it. For negating its impact. I love you. I love you for protecting me. I love you for keeping me safe. Thank you. For helping me see what I've been carrying. Then simply continue repeating the phrases. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. There's no right number of times to keep repeating. You may say them twice, You may say them 27 times. For me, My body will often let me know when something is shifting. I might start yawning. Take a deeper breath. Might feel softer. And then I know I'm complete with the practice. Here's another example. An old memory that suddenly appears. You're doing the dishes. Taking a walk. Driving. And suddenly a memory surfaces from years ago. Might've been a teacher, An ex-partner. A parent, A friend. And when a memory suddenly surfaces, I no longer see it as a problem to fix. I see it as something asking for my attention and compassion. I might respond with hoʻoponopono like this. I'm sorry. Gosh, I didn't know we were still holding on to that. That really hurt. I can see why we held onto it. Please forgive me. For not being aware. For not having the capacity at the time to. See what this was. For not being ready to let go until now. I love you. I love all that you do for me. I love that you keep me safe and you're protecting me. I love that you showed this to me now. Thank you. Thank you for bringing this into my awareness. And then continue repeating the phrases. Until it feels complete. Another example of how to use Ho'oponopono. Self-judgment. You missed a goal. You didn't get what you wanted when you said you were going to get there. You broke our street. Oh my gosh, You've gained some weight. Couldn't stay on that meal plan. You didn't get to the gym on time. God, Why can't you just be consistent? Or, Damn! Why did I spend so much this month? I didn't need all this. Or maybe. Hmm, You didn't follow through. That's just like you. You just never follow through with what you say. Sound familiar? And now you're carrying shame and judgment. And you're putting it on yourself. You're doing it to yourself. And instead of directing hoʻoponopono toward another person, We're gonna direct it toward ourselves because that's how I believe the Ho'oponopono works the best. And so if you're carrying shame, Criticism, Or disappointment, It might sound like this. I'm sorry for being so hard on myself. I'm sorry for calling myself names. I'm sorry for believing that I'll never be consistent. Please forgive me. I didn't know you were listening and believing everything I said to myself as truth. I love you. Mind, Body, And soul, We're in this together. We're a partnership. And I love that. Thank you. Thank you for helping me see myself. With more kindness and compassion. And then allow your body to guide how long you stay with a practice of repeating the phrases, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. And now as you move on through your day. You may notice a memory, A feeling, Have a reaction, Or. . . Even a body sensation arises. Yet rather than pushing it away. Maybe you can become curious. Maybe this is something asking to be acknowledged. Maybe this is something asking for compassion. Or maybe this is something within me asking to be released. And if so, Hoʻoponopono can become a gentle way of meeting it. And allowing healing to unfold within you.