Category: Zen

Is Happiness a Destination?

Two years ago I left my corporate job and moved to Maui to a simpler life. Now I live in New Zealand on a working holiday visa.

Alot has changed in these last two years; both inner & outer. Many amazing sunsets, beautiful ocean views, and amazing mountains. Through my journeys I experienced that happiness is found within. There were dark times living in paradise (Maui) and life isn’t always perfect traveling New Zealand. You bring your insecurities, fears, doubts, unskillful habits, and worries with you every where you go.

There are plenty of unhappy people living in beautiful destinations and many content people living in undesirable cities. Happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of life. A way of life we as individuals must find out on our own. There are many blueprints of other people’s lives to learn from though and many people who will help you along the journey.

You are not alone, but only you can truly help yourself become content with your life.

No pill, book, or material item can replace hard work and commitment. Question everything, even your own thoughts, which are often based on false narratives from past experiences.

This seems difficult but what could be more important than your own contentment? What I find liberating about this message is that we are back in the driver seat of our own life. No one can save us but ourself. We have the power to live the life we truly want to live. It only takes us letting go of old beliefs, habits, and judgments.

Kia Ora,

Johnny Hoffman

Expectations=Planned Failures.

I accept that I am flawed and not perfect… So why do I expect the world around me to be perfect?

I see myself and many others suffer from setting high expectations for the world around them. Expectations are planned failures. We expect ever traffic light will be green and every day for the sun to shine. Everyday at work has to run 100% smoothly. We expect the barista to be friendly and helpful. What if we could let go of our high expectations and just enjoy life in the now? We can focus our own energy on improving ourselves and the world around us instead of criticizing others. Sounds like paradise compared to everyday struggle of constantly being disappointed when our expectations aren’t met by our family, friends, and coworkers. We can raise the standards of what we can control(diet, friends, habits, perception) and let go of the expectations of perfection in the world around us.

Another beautiful side effect from this change in perception is that when things do go smoothly it’s so much more enjoyable than ever before. There’s much less complaining, victimization, and mindless gossip when we let go of our high expectations.

There’s no right or wrong way of living our life. But we can suffer much less by being mindful and open minded. We can’t change others into what we want them to be. We can only change our mind set towards others.

With Aloha,

Johnny Hoffman

Black Mirror.

I feel nauseous.

Anxious & depressed.

Fearful & full of doubt.

Violent & apathetic.

 

All day I stare into glowing screens.

Advertisements bombarding me at every moment.

One show is violent.

The next full of greed and anger.

Could this be the source of my discontent?

 

You are what you eat.

You are what you listen too.

You are what you watch on your glowing screens.

I Don’t Know.

Today I will release my need to know.

To control everything & everyone.

I will surrender to the path unknown.

 

I don’t know what lies ahead on my path.

I don’t know if I will ever get married or have kids.

I don’t know what happens after death.

I don’t know what is best for another.

I don’t know what is truly good or bad. 

As-for-me-all-I-know-is-that-I-know-nothing-11

 

 

 

Roots.

Three coconut trees are planted near the coast of the Island of Maui. 

One palm tree focuses its energy on impressing tourists by growing the most delicious coconuts on the island. It seeks constant validation from others.

The second tree wants to be respected for being the tallest coconut tree on the island. It grows its stem thick but not flexible to impress or scare others.

The third coconut tree is small and has average coconuts. It focused its energy on building strong roots deep into the ground.

A massive storm approaches from the north. High winds howl into the darkness of the night. The storm ends swiftly the following morning leaving the coastal town in pieces. 

The first tree is uprooted, flying into the depths of the ocean. It spent a majority of its life trying to please others and thus had tremendously weak roots.

The second coconut tree wasn’t flexible enough to weather the storm. It spent its whole life trying to earn respect through fear and power. Its insecurities cracked under the immense power of the storm.

The third coconut tree survives the storm. Its roots were well developed and its stem was flexible in the high winds. It wasn’t living to please others or intimidate them through might.

By focusing your energy on your roots you can weather any storm.

By staying flexible, you can bend with the strong winds of life.

 

 

 

Waves.

A wave breaks at the shore.

Never to be seen again.

One wave allows room for the next.

It accepts its impermanence.

It allows for its transformation.

 

The wave is both impermanent & infinite.

Each drop of water is interconnected.

Within the vastness of the ocean.

So are you. 

Scrolling Away Our Life.

Depression

Anxiety.

A deep mental fog.

Sleep deprivation.

Constantly distracted.

 

Why must I be distracted from my life?

Is my cell phone more important than joy?

 

I must change this behavior.

Today, I will rip off the band-aid.

No more social media.

No more scrolling away my life.

Path Unknown.

In front of you is a dense forest. Alone your mind wanders of what lies ahead. The path will be treacherous at times. Will you survive what lies ahead?

Dark clouds lurk above.

Fear, worry, & doubt in every step.

Will I survive the path unknown?

 

I could just stay in the cozy open field.

Take the easy route.

Ride out my one life in a security blanket.

Imprisoned by doubt.

 

Step into the lush forest.

Embrace the path unknown.