Healing and the power of thoughts
I have frequently written in this column about the amazing power our thoughts can have in either healing or harming our emotional and physical well-being. Awhile back a close friend recommended a book to me entitled “Zero Limits” written by Dr. Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. Some of you may be familiar with Dr. Len. He is the Hawaiian psychologist who reportedly healed an entire ward full of criminally insane patients merely by looking over their charts.
As a psychologist who has been practicing for over 30 years and who has employed many different techniques and approaches in an effort to help my clients heal, this finding was both intriguing and quite unbelievable. However, after reading the book, I came away convinced that Dr. Len’s approach was based on very solid spiritual and psychological principles. Dr. Len’s method in based on the ancient Hawaiian teaching of ho’oponopono which loosely translated means to “make right” or to “rectify error.” One of the key components of Dr. Len’s teaching is that most of our thoughts, and therefore our actions, are based on memory rather than inspiration. Memories are all about our past. They are the sum total of everything that we have experienced, not only in our own lives, but in the collective culture of humankind as well. This notion is closely related to Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious. Memories are like computer programs, which unless we are aware, can almost completely control our thoughts and actions. Our challenge, according to Dr. Len, is to clear or as he refers to it, “clean” all these programs so that we can return to what he refers to as “zero state.” This is a state where we are guided by inspiration. Inspiration, as the name implies, is from the spirit, or more appropriately, from God. According to Dr. Len, it is only by following inspiration that we will discover true happiness, healing, and peace.
Dr. Len believes that problems are merely memories replaying. In order to release these memories, we must offer them in love to God, who hears and responds, but in a way that is not always best for us, but ultimately best for all at the given time. As Dr. Len says “We choose, but we don’t decide! God decides!” According to Dr. Len the purpose of life is to return back to love, one moment at a time. In order to accomplish this purpose, we must take full and total responsibility for the condition of our lives at present. We must come to see that it is our thinking that most profoundly affects our approach to life. So, it’s not the people, places, and things in our life, but rather our thoughts and feelings regarding them that matter most.
So, if we want to be healed and be at peace, we must be open to inspiration, which emanates from God. This requires us to surrender and to start listening and be open, rather than trying to control life based on our own limited views. While the power of intention works and brings results, inspiration is the stuff of miracles. The choice is up to us, so, choose wisely because your ultimate healing and peace, and that of the entire world, depend on it! Dr. Raymond Angelini of New Horizons Coaching has been in private practice for 30 years in Saratoga Springs. He specializes in assisting individuals in finding and sustaining careers that are more rewarding, lifeenhancing and in keeping with one’s personal and spiritual values. For more information, email rayangel1@live.com or visit his website at www. newhorizonscoaching.com.