A False Dichotomy: Living in the Present or Planning for the Future

You can be present and plan for the future at the same time.

With the rapidly increasing distribution of social media producing a hyperconnected world, there is a reinforced need for individuals to justify and prove their significance. It isn’t uncommon to hear the phrase “find yourself” being thrown around. While our connection has brought upon beautiful creations, there is a dark side.

It breeds chaos.

Instagram photos, motivation videos, highlight reels, ‘overnight’ success stories — while they’ve inspired a new generation of ambition, they also reveal the heart-aching possibility that maybe your life isn’t so important.

It’s no wonder that we’re seeing a massive spike in chaos-reduction strategies. Just to list a few on the trend:

Zen

Stoicism

Mindfulness

All of these lifestyle tools share a common theme.

Being present

What does being present really mean?

Be here now.

Enjoy the moment.

Live as if today is your last day.

All of this is wonderful advice, but is enormously misunderstood. No, it doesn’t mean to indulge in instantly gratifying activities, nor does it mean to obsessively plan your future and not enjoy your current experiences.

In fact, it often involves examining the past and future rather than neglecting them. Cultural examples of this include negative visualisation, which involves imagining yourself dying in the future and journalling which involves reflection on past experiences — yet these practices are often preached by those who tell you to be present.

Be the silent watcher of your thoughts and behavior. You are beneath the thinker. You are the stillness beneath the mental noise. You are the love and joy beneath the pain — Eckhart Tolle

Being present ultimately comes down to awareness. Whatever you’re doing, be aware of it. When you’re planning for the future, you’re watching your thoughts and behavior in that moment. And when that moment is gone, repeat it in the next moment. Being mindful may very well involve delaying your current desires to plan for the future.

Productivity versus Peace

There is a misconception that being productive means giving up your peace, stemming from the perception that meditation surfaces as an aimless task. On the other side of the spectrum, many of us entertain the Romantic idea of losing ourselves to our craft — becoming so engrossed that we lose touch with reality.

When you hear the word meditation, the first thing you think of is probably someone sitting peacefully, away from all suffering, and devoid of all thoughts. You may envy this person for their achievement of peace, or you may even despise them for their lack of productivity.

But this perception of meditation is poisonous, and believing it will cause you to become increasingly frustrated with your own practice. Nobody is devoid of thinking. Not even a monk is devoid of thinking. However, if you’ve ever talked to a monk, you’ll notice that they speak slowly and articulately, as if they’ve put in years of thought into the next sentence they’re going to say.

Being at peace with yourself and producing value to society are not mutually exclusive. Mindfulness has been proven to increase focus, productivity, creativity as well as reduce stress. When Steve Jobs wanted to go to Japan to explore a spiritual journey, his guru Kobun Chino Otogawa urged him to stay in America so he could be productive and further impact the consciousness of the universe.