How Do You Live In The Present When Everything Is Focused On The Future? | The Odyssey Online
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How Do You Live In The Present When Everything Is Focused On The Future?

Is it even possible?

Maggie Pope
Apr 11, 2016
University of Richmond
67
How Do You Live In The Present When Everything Is Focused On The Future?
santabanta.com

We hear it time and time again. Live in the present. Live in the moment. Carpe Diem.

But how are we supposed to live in the present when everything we've been taught, everything we've been told, and everything we do is indicative of and so focused on the future? We are preparing for the future throughout the 17+ years of schooling we go through. We are preparing for the future when we look for a boyfriend. We are preparing for the future in every aspect of life, and yet they still tell us to live in the present.

As a college student especially, all I can ever think about is my future. I have to think about graduating. I have to think about getting into grad school. I have to think about what I'm going to do after I'm done with school. I have to think about getting a job and supporting a family some day. With all of that weight on us, how can we ever just live in the present? Don't we have to consider how every one of our actions affects the next moment, the next, day, the next week, and so on?

The answer is no.

Of course, we have to think about our future. But that doesn't mean we can't ENJOY the moment we are in. Because everything we do now is going to impact what happens later on down the road, isn't that an even better reason to make sure that what is happening right now is amazing?

Nothing is going to happen the way you think it will anyway. So if you worry about what you are doing right now, things will fall into place. You can't control what happens tomorrow, even if you think about it and prepare for it. You can only give yourself the best chance for a good result. And your best chance is going to stem from the moment you are in right now.

And if we are so focused on the future, If we are so focused on having the best job in the best city 20 years from now, we're going to miss life. We really are only young for so long, and things will never be the same as they are right now. So, we have to grasp this moment in our hands and in our minds for as long as we can. We have to love our friends and do things that we enjoy, just in case we don't get another chance to do them.

I don't think it's possible to "live in the moment" completely. We will always have some motive of working towards the future. But we shouldn't miss out either. We don't know what's going to happen next, so we can only do the best we can right now.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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