There is an ancient Hawaiian practice — simple yet profoundly powerful — that can heal not only relationships, but even illnesses. It is so miraculous that it doesn’t require the people involved to be physically present. Just four short phrases are said to have the power to transform a person’s life.
Four simple, healing phrases
Let’s begin with a true story from the early 1980s. In the state of Hawaii, there was a notoriously troubled psychiatric hospital. It wasn’t just home to patients with mental illness; it also housed criminal offenders deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. The environment was violent and chaotic — patients frequently fought each other and attacked staff. Therapists assigned to the hospital often quit after only a few months. Even the staff had to walk with their backs to the walls for fear of being assaulted. This grim atmosphere had persisted for years, seemingly without hope of change.
Then, one day, something extraordinary happened
A new therapist was assigned to the hospital — Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len is a psychologist from Los Angeles and a respected figure in the field of psychology. But Dr. Hew Len was unlike any therapist they had seen. He didn’t conduct therapy sessions, didn’t diagnose anyone, and never even met a single patient face-to-face. Instead, he sat in his office and read the patients’ files.
At first glance, it seemed like he was doing nothing at all. But within a few months, something incredible began to happen. The once-frequent fights between patients started to decline. The isolation rooms began to empty. Patients became more cooperative and took greater responsibility for themselves. They started to accept treatment plans, needed less medication, and even began to walk freely — without handcuffs or shackles. The environment transformed: it became calmer, cleaner, safer, and more vibrant. Staff stopped calling in sick and no longer quit.
Over the next two or three years, nearly all the patients were healed. Eventually, the hospital itself shut down — because it was no longer needed.
So what exactly had Dr. Hew Len done?
He had employed an ancient Hawaiian healing practice called Ho’oponopono, which translates as “to make right” or “to bring things into balance.” It’s also known as Zero Limits. This healing method is based on the principle of taking complete responsibility and spiritual cleansing through reconciliation and forgiveness. “Zero” means returning everything to its original, pure state — the state of Divine love.
Dr. Hew Len believed that everything we experience in life — every conflict, illness, or challenge — is a reflection of what exists in our subconscious mind. So instead of trying to change others, he took responsibility for what he perceived and began to “cleanse” himself. His tool? Just four simple phrases, repeated with heartfelt sincerity: “I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.”
He would repeat these phrases continuously as he meditated on the patients’ files. Whether at the hospital, at home, or even after leaving work, he maintained this practice of inner cleansing. He wasn’t healing the patients directly — instead, he was healing the part of himself that perceived them as sick or violent. The principle behind this is simple yet profound: When you cleanse your subconscious mind of old memories, judgments, and negative energy, reality itself begins to shift. What you clear within, clears without.
Applying Ho’oponopono in your daily life
Imagine you’re working with a team and start feeling frustrated with one member. As resentment grows, the whole project might stall or encounter roadblocks. So what can you do? Instead of blaming the other person or trying to fix them, ask yourself: “What is it in me that is creating this experience?” You don’t need to uncover the exact memory or cause. Acknowledge the discomfort, and begin the internal cleansing process by silently repeating with sincerity:
“I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.” Repeat these phrases until a sense of inner peace begins to arise. Over time, you may notice your frustration fading — and even more remarkably, the other person’s behavior might even shift as well! It’s as if the negative connection dissolves without a single word being exchanged.
This is the power of Ho’oponopono — and it’s proven to be effective. You can give it a try and experience it for yourself. This practice isn’t limited to relationships. You can apply it to physical illness, financial hardship, or emotional pain. The core belief is that whatever appears in your life is your responsibility — not as a source of blame or guilt, but as a source of power. You hold the ability to transform it by healing the part of yourself that created or attracted it.
Dr. Hew Len’s core teaching
During his time at the hospital, Dr. Hew Len believed that the violence and chaos he witnessed were not truly “out there” in the patients, but reflections of what existed within his consciousness. By using Ho’oponopono to clear these inner imprints and judgments, the outer world responded in kind. The patients healed — not because they were directly treated, but because the perception of them was cleansed at its source within the doctor himself.
This is the essence of Zero Limits: returning to a pure state of love, forgiveness, and harmony. It serves as a potent reminder that true healing and transformation always begin from within. So the next time you feel tension in a relationship or face a difficult situation, remember: This approach offers a gentle yet powerful starting point. There’s no confrontation, no fixing of others — only your presence, humility, and willingness to take full responsibility for your inner world.
“I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.” These four simple phrases may not change the world overnight, but they can change your world — and that might be the miracle you’ve been searching for.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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