Anxiety
The illness of our times
Our minds wander to the future
Grasping for control
Wanting to know what will happen
The truth is that the future is completely unwritten
Because of impermanence, anything is possible
Let’s stop trying to control the uncontrollable
If we want a better future, we must take care of the present moment
With aloha,
Johnny
For us to be truly happy we must let go of the pursuit of happiness
Because when we feel temporarily happy, we desperately cling to it
We become restless and fearful of losing happiness, which causes a vicious circle of suffering
So for us to be truly happy we must be calm and centered
You can’t be truly happy if you’re not calm
So instead of seeking pleasure or avoiding pain
Seek the discomfort of stillness
Look within that restlessness, anger, or hatred
And let go of the pursuit of happiness
Instead of trying to find this elusive happiness, practice the middle path of awareness, peace, and being calm
Each time we fall off the path of clarity & calmness we self reflect, let it go and move forward
From my experience, this way of living seems much more sustainable than chasing elusive happiness
A friend shared this with me and it has enriched my life significantly and I hope it does the same for you
With aloha,
Johnny
There is much wisdom found in the mountains.
Knowledge found in a flowing stream.
Follow the waves as they form & dissipate in the ocean.
Go to mother nature.
Sit, walk, & listen.
Let her heal you of your suffering.
Let the wind dry your tears.
The answers you seek will be found here.
Within you.
Because you are an extension of her beauty.
Namaste 🙏🏼
There are many forks in the road.
Left or right?
Indecision paralyzes me.
Fear fills my mind.
My mind racing in circles.
Anxiety filling each moment.
Who knows where each path will go?
Maybe I could let go of this fear.
And pick up love.
Embrace the adventure that life truly is.
Curiosity can fill the space where anxiety once was.
All will work out on the path unknown.
Suffering lives within all of us
Past mistakes on rerun
Future uncertainties constantly dance within our minds,
Making us suffering in this moment
How do we break from this cycle?
We can understand our own suffering
We can develop compassion and self love
As we develop compassion for ourself,
We can begin to transform our suffering into joy
Our life can now be spent helping others suffering less
Bringing joy & peace for those in need
I cried.
I begged.
I promised I would change.
I poured my heart out.
I suffered alone.
How could you not want me back?
Why can’t you forgive me?
How could you be so cold?
How could you be so heartless?
Welcome to heartbreak.
The heartbreak of rejection.
The sadness of regret.
The pain of looking in the mirror.
Self-hatred.
Anxious days.
Depressed nights.
Through the pain, I learned how to be the lotus flower.
For the lotus flower grows in muddy waters.
Through suffering comes joy.
Through suffering comes peace.
Through suffering comes transformation.
No mud, no lotus.
My heart is now filled with gratitude.
Thank you for letting me suffer and grow.
Thank you for letting me go three years ago.
Thank you, Alicia.
Hope all is well.
With Aloha,
Johnny Hoffman
Backstory: 3 years ago in Feb 2015 my life changed forever. I finally told my fiance that I cheated on her. She left me that day. I felt heartbroken, fearful, and anxious. I had to sit with myself. Sit with the anxiety, pain, and loneliness. Sit with the self-hatred. Through that suffering I found a new way of life. A one of meditation, mindfulness, and joy.
(Main photo: Kanye West, 808’s & Heartbreaks)
From CEO’s to professional athletes, the practice of meditation is becoming more normalized in the United States. Meditation has also been extensively studied by neuroscientists who have found scientific proof that meditation can rewire the brain, making us more compassionate and loving people. Meditation isn’t going to make your life perfect. Think of it as a mental health exercise that can alleviate mental stress, anxiety, and depression. Adding it to a healthy diet and workout regiment for a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Our mind is like a puppy wandering towards every stimulus in the park, never truly focusing on the present moment. The goal of meditation isn’t to control our thoughts but to not allow our thoughts to control us.
In its most basic definition, meditation is allowing everything to exactly exist in its present state. Sounds easy right? It’s not, our mind loves wandering to the past, future, or how things should be but they are not. Meditation is about training the brain so you are not tormented by cravings, impulses, and the natural tendency for our mind to focus on the negative.
I discovered meditation when my ex-fiance and I broke up. My anxiety after the breakup was so bad that I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. My stomach was constantly in knots and my mind was in chaos. One day I researched the benefits of meditation and found out that it could help alleviate anxiety. After trial and error, I started meditating 10-60 minutes a day. I couldn’t believe how great I felt after my meditation. My anxiety & stress seemed to vanish and I felt more content with who I was in my entire life. Life has had its ups and downs since then but I can always find my peace while meditating. It helps me focus on the present, express gratitude, and show compassion to myself and others.
I invite you to try meditation for yourself. Find a meditation that works for you. Whether that’s a mindful walking meditation or sitting on a chair/cushion. The first step is to focus on your breath, which will center your body and mind. Whenever your mind wanders, you can bring it back to the present moment by focusing on the breath. With the power of Youtube, Google, and all the different applications like Calm or Headspace you can find your own path of meditation that works for you. Just remember, meditation won’t always be pleasurable just like working out or eating healthy isn’t always enjoyable. The benefits of meditation our felt when leaving the cushion. The benefits of compassion, love, forgiveness, and focus.
With Aloha,
Jonathan Hoffman
The Narrow Path 