Haters gonna hate. . . Love your way through. . . .part 2

So, last time we talked about turning your thoughts regarding your haters inward, and using the technique of loving your way through. . . But how. . .

When someone goes out of their way to sprinkle hate my way, I stop to think to myself, “What was it that caused this person to go out of their way to treat me this way.?”  I used to stop there, and then commence throw a pity party . . . “Oh, it’s just me, they just don’t like me”, or, I’d get angry and kind of defiant, “Who do they think they are? Why are they doing that?” But that line of thinking really didn’t get me anywhere.  Chances are, it doesn’t get you anywhere either.

I recently had a friend crap all over a project I was really excited about.  It seemed that with everything I said, my friend became more and more negative.  At one point, I was told that I was speaking to her like a child, (although I’m pretty sure the opposite was true), and that she would speak to me like one in kind. I honestly had no idea where the negativity came from.  The ferocity with which this “friend” spoke to me blew my mind. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has turned to a friend in excitement only to have that same “friend” act like anything but.  However, this occasion presented to me the perfect opportunity to flex my ho’oponopono muscles.

I stopped my fretting and took  responsibility for the situation- Was there something I said that hit a nerve with this friend?  It’s been a while since we communicated and we have both been through a lot, could she be feeling neglected as a friend?  Have I been the best friend to her that I could be?  My answer was, “There is a lot that I could have personally done differently, that may have prevented this overwhelmingly negative response from my friend.” Of course, sometimes there isn’t anything you really could have done differently, but the point is to take responsibility for what is done. So, I took a deep breath, rolled my eyes up to the sky and said,  I love you.  I’m sorry.  Please forgive me.  Thank you.  And I did this over and over whenever I got upset.  See, unfortunately, when I encounter haters, I have an inner mean girl who likes to repeat what they say, and get me discouraged. So, anytime I felt my friend’s words echo in my head over the next week or so,(and for me, it’s like that sometimes I get mad for weeks. . . I’m sure you guys let everything go right away. . . I’m working to be like you!)  I would take note and say to myself, I love you.  I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.  And you know what?  My energy changed.  I found motivation to keep moving forward on my project.  After taking responsibility for my part of my friend’s negative reaction, I was able to free myself from the conflict and move toward my goal.  Bonus- I learned something. Ho’oponopono is helpful. . . and don’t work with this negative-ass friend.  See! So much growth. (And another post topic- let the haters go. . . )

Ho’oponopono harnesses an ages old way of thought, that isn’t just relegated to ancient Hawaiian healing techniques.  In Phillipians in the bible, Paul says to the church, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  This is kind of what we do with Ho’oponopono.  We think lovely thoughts toward those things that trouble us, and take responsibility.  The technique is so simple:

1.) I love you

2.) I’m sorry

3.) Please forgive me

4.) Thank you.

I know, right.  Revolutionary.  I think we think that we need to work through hours of therapy, and years of a mindfulness practice, and lots and lots and lots of Jesus, to get ourselves to a place where others don’t bother us.

But with this simple technique, you can take responsibility for the feelings of others, and treat them gently, with love.  I was reading James Altucher, and he said that getting angry with other people is dishonest. He said something like, who are we to expect other people to be perfect? To not fail us?  It is dishonest and unfair to do so, and that’s where our anger comes from.  (That alone could be a post by itself 🙂

So, when someone gets you upset through their craziness, hating on you and yours and what you’re trying to do, rather than get angry. . . take responsibility for the other person’s pain.  Love them, as you would want to be loved.  Repeat to yourself, I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you.

You don’t even have to engage your haters with this method.  For me that’s the best part, because I really can’t stand dealing with haters.  From a distance, in your own quiet space you can lend love and light, and watch. . . your haters won’t really bother you anymore.  Your focus is inward, you start to concern yourself with your reactions, your behavior, your motivations.  This takes the energy away from the hater, and brings it into what will hopefully be a realm you can control.  Yourself. Now if only that self control thing were as easy. . . this whole enlightenment game would be a wrap.

If you want to learn more about ho’oponopono, Joe Vitale and Dr. Len wrote an entire book, Zero Limits. You can find out more about it here: http://www.zerolimits.info/

Until next time,

Love,

Lady in Yellow