We’ve all been there, torn between living in the moment versus planning for the future. From important aspects like work and parenting, to the more mundane like meal planning and what to watch on Netflix, the push/pull of these opposing forces can make even the smallest decisions seem fraught with consequences.
Do we work on the urgent problem of today or do we take the time to do some strategic planning?
Do we give in to our child’s demand and keep peace in the moment? Or do we hold fast to our rules in the hope of helping our offspring become a self-disciplined person in the future?
Do we comfort ourselves with brownies and our favorite romcom? Or do we take the time to grill chicken and eat it over leafy greens as we watch that documentary that will surely make us an informed human being?
Our minds naturally gravitate toward a binary approach because it’s an easier way to make sense of the world. Yet, intellectually, we recognize that operating exclusively in either realm (present or future) doesn’t serve us well.