Balancing the Future and the Present

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Editor in Chief, Pick The Brain | CATEGORIES: philosophy

Consider some of the choices that impact our lives on a daily basis:

  • Do I stay up late hanging out with friends, or go to sleep and be productive tomorrow?
  • Do I eat out because it’s easy, or cook at home and save money?
  • Should I work late and get ahead, or enjoy the beautiful spring weather?

Each of these choices boils down to a simple question. Do I want to enjoy the present moment or plan for the future?

These are all difficult decisions because both answers have their merits. The present moment is fleeting and immediate, while the future is constantly hanging overhead. Part of us is constantly begging for indulgence while another part is worried that we’re falling behind and won’t be able to recover. Satisfying both sides requires balance.

It’s tempting to simplify our lives by choosing an extreme and applying it to every decision. How many people live from pleasure to pleasure trying to “live life to the fullest”, only to realize 10 years later that they’ve wasted all their time and money and have nothing to show for it? On the other hand, who envies the miser who’d rather save a few dollars than enjoy the company of friends and family? Foolish extravagance and cold hearted stinginess both make miserable people.

Making Conscious Decisions

Finding balance is the art of living. It can’t be taught, but we can develop it within ourselves as we gain wisdom and experience. The first step is consciously examining everyday decisions. We’re so absorbed by routine that we continue doing things without thinking about them. Fortunately, when a bad decision pushes us off balance we can tell because it makes us unhappy.

Next time you feel a part of your routine isn’t the right decision, ask yourself a few questions:

  • Why did I start doing this? Does it satisfy a present urge or provide for the future?
  • Does it still fulfill the same desire it did when I started doing it? Does the benefit still outweigh the cost?
  • If not, what else should I be doing?

A simple review often provides the best answer. We already know the truth, but we’re blinded by routine. Taking a serious look at our behavior makes bad decisions hard to ignore. Asking these questions regularly helps us refine our behavior and every tiny increment of progress takes us closer to the elusive Golden Mean.

  • Joe C.

    Very nice post. I know I always get stuck in routines. When I start to get depressed and feel like I’m underachieving, I know it’s time to make a change. It’s always good to reevaluate your situation. Thanks for the reminder.

  • SumGuy

    Yea, yea totally obvious. Still good advice though. I just came across this site, going to check out more.

    Peace

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  • http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog Steven Aitchison

    Good post John, a timely reminder for myself. I think a lot of people are stuck in routines and it helps just to stand back and take stock of your life.

  • http://www.best-of-time-management.com/success.htm Pamela

    Great post. I agree that we prioritize our routines when it comes to decisions. We need to realize that our decisions are simpler if we think about it based on our experiences.

  • http://www.steve-olson.com Steve Olson

    John,

    I’ve struggled with balance for years. But here is the strange thing about living in the present… you can’t help it… no matter what. Are you staring at a gray wall imagining the past? You’re doing it in the present. Did you just invest a thousand dollars in the stock market for the future? You did it in the present. And no matter what you do with the present you are experiencing right now, your present WILL create your future which will then be experienced as the present later. Even doing nothing creates your future.

    A thought I try to use – I am creating the future right now, what am I creating?

  • http://www.pickthebrain.com John Wesley

    Steve,

    I like that way of thinking about it. It makes sense intuitively. If we fill the present with positive behavior, the cumulative effect will be a positive future.

  • Ladarzak

    I’m not a huge Steve Pavlina fan, but one of his suggestions sorts this issue out for me very well. The question “What is the best use of my time right now?” I know damn well when I need som eindulgence, and when it is inappropriate, I think, if I answer this question. Mostly it motivates me to do something productive more than I would if I didn’t ask, but it leaves plenty of room for knowing when taking a break or a treat or a vacation is the best use of my time.

  • http://www.psych101online.com Helen

    I agree that growing wisdom and experience is important in our decision making. Decisions like these are hard to make and must be made carefully by examining our past experiences and making use of our wisdom.

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