Forgiveness is a topic I speak of often and passionately about because I know its power. Forgiveness can shift stuck and negative energy unlike anything else. It helps you release your attachment to what’s happening and the meaning you’ve given it. Forgiveness releases you from whatever internal prisons bind you, to bring greater freedom to yourself and your relationships.
 
(Move your biggest traumas to the side with what I say below. That is a different and layered discussion.)
 
One of my favorite forgiveness techniques is the Ho’oponopono. I first spoke of this technique in a previous blog in 2019 and heard from my unseen team that it’s time for a refresher.
 
The first step though before we forgive, is to take responsibility for whatever is occurring in our life that's causing us upset because once we do, then we can change it. Feel the empowerment of, "If I created it, I can change it. This is in my reality, therefore I have the power to alter it.”
 
We each author and create our own reality through our thoughts, our emotions, our beliefs, how we act and respond in any given situation. Yes, much of it can be subconscious or unconscious, that's why we take responsibility first. It’s an illusion that anything outside of us is doing it to us. 
 
Now comes the forgiveness. The Ho’oponopono is such a brilliant technique for this. It consists of four lines:

“I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you.”
 
You say these things to yourself, while visualizing or picturing the person or situation that’s causing you distress.
 
Let me detail the components:
 
“I love you.”
Everything starts with love. You have to start from a place of self-love to shift the energy, as love is the most powerful force there is.
 
“I’m sorry.”
Forgive yourself for whyever this is in your reality. Even if you don’t know why something is happening- it could be a faulty belief, a negative thought pattern, or something stuck deep in the unconscious – don’t worry about the details, the point is to genuinely feel sorry that you’re experiencing this pain or trauma.

 “Please forgive me.”
 Ask for, and be willing to receive forgiveness. It’s yours. 
 
“Thank you.”
Gratitude is a powerful energy for change. Truly be grateful that the energy can now shift. That you’re opening the door to your previous prison.
 
I’ve seen the Ho’oponopono completely transform negative situations and relationships. I use it myself regularly.  

Sometimes, I go into detail with it. For example, “I love you self. I'm so sorry this is causing us upset. Please forgive me for whyever we’re experiencing it. Thank you.”
 
You can change up the lines as well and give even more detail. For example, with a physical issue: “I'm so sorry we're going through (speak what it is). Please forgive me for whatever was involved in its creation. I love you so much self. Thank you for helping me release (fill in the blank).”
 
When using it towards another, you think of them while speaking the words to whatever is happening within you. Freeing yourself first, to shift the relationship.
 
It’s not necessary to detail it, but sometimes I like to start that way, to give my whole being a very specific message of what we’re healing. 

The Ho'oponopono is such an elegant way to free yourself and shift your reality. You can use it for anything! Health issues, financial issues, conflicts with another, job issues, recurring negative thoughts- struggles of any kind. Forgive to release them. 
 
Remember, it starts with you. You need to be the change. Take responsibility and then speak the self-forgiveness. A beautiful future awaits.


If you want to dive more deeply into forgiveness, check out my blogs on that topic under the "Forgiveness" category to the right.

Too often I think we equate success with money. We tie them together and then we feel less than or unworthy if we’re not earning what we’d like.
 
The same holds true with our careers. We feel like a failure not only if we don’t get that title at work, but also if we don’t have the number of followers or likes we desire on social media, or if our career doesn’t match how others are doing it.
 
But true success has nothing to do with income or the outer trappings. Seeing it myopically can be destructive to your self-worth and self-esteem. You don’t have to achieve some arbitrary goal or view yourself by society’s standards to be a success. That’s the old patriarchal limited view of achievements equating value.
 
What if we broaden the definition?
 
I want you to contemplate Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words in his poem, “Success,” to see if you can shift your perspective:
 
“To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the approval of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one's self;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived . . .
This is to have succeeded.”
 
By this definition, can you begin to see yourself as a success?
 
In addition to the above, you’re a success when you show up consciously and conscientiously. When you take the time to work on yourself, versus continuing negative behaviors. When you strive to be your best self. When you stretch and grow. When you help others or extend kindness. When you lead from love.
 
Feel the expansiveness of the truth of success. Let it shift you to become more and to own how truly successful you are. Because the more you can truly own that you’re a success, the wider and more varied your success will become.

Since Love day is coming up on Friday, I recorded a short series of affirmations for you, meant to inspire, uplift, and help you feel empowered. They will open you to greater alignment with yourself and The Universe.
 
Words can be just words, but frequency and resonance are everything. So, try to feel the energy behind the words. Feel that you are authoring a new reality as you speak the words into existence.
 
For added power, stand in front of the mirror and look yourself in the eye as you say them. You can stand in the super hero pose for an extra boost. (See my blog on that here)

Some of the affirmations are long, begin speaking them along with me.
 
When you’re done, give yourself a hug to signal to your body that you're choosing to anchor in these affirmations and say,“Yes please! Nervous system and subconscious, this is what I’m creating and choosing to experience. This is safe and good for me now!”

I kept it short, less than 4 minutes, so that you can repeat it as often as you desire. You can also play it in the background when you need to raise your energy.
 
And for those to whom Valentine’s day is not a fun day, or even if it is, give the love to yourself first. Let it be a Self-Love day. You’re very deserving of it!
 
 
YouTube Affirmations