The Problem with Living in the Present

We’re all guilty of it. FOMO, or the “fear of missing out,” is a very real phenomenon in our social media-driven world. It’s the feeling that we need to be doing something, anything, at all times or we’ll miss out on something amazing. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to make the most of our time, living in the present can actually have some negative consequences.

The need for instant gratification
One of the biggest problems with living in the present is that it creates a need for instant gratification. We want things to happen immediately and we get frustrated when they don’t. This isn’t just a problem with tangible things like getting groceries delivered; it also extends to our careers, relationships, and even our personal growth. We expect to see results immediately, and when we don’t, we often give up altogether.

Missing out on the journey
When we’re so focused on living in the present and getting to the end goal as quickly as possible, we often miss out on enjoying the journey. The best example of this is probably career growth. If you’re constantly thinking about how you want to be promoted to the next level, you’re going to miss out on enjoying your current position. Instead of focusing on where you want to be, take some time to appreciate where you are right now. Who knows? You might even find that you enjoy the process a lot more than you thought you would.

Focusing too much on what other people are doing
Another downside of living in the present is that it can cause us to focus too much on what other people are doing instead of concentrating on our own lives. With social media being such a big part of our lives, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others and feel like we’re not doing enough with our lives. But remember that everyone has their own journey to take and their own timeline for taking it. Just because someone else is further along than you are doesn’t mean that you’re behind. Concentrate on your own life and your own journey; chances are, you’ll be a lot happier for it in the long run.

Living in the present can be beneficial in some ways, but it also has its drawbacks. The main problem with living in the present is that it can create a need for instant gratification that isn’t always possible or realistic. It can also cause us to miss out on important aspects of our lives, like enjoying the journey instead of just striving for the end goal. Finally, if we’re not careful, living in the present can lead us to focus too much on what other people are doing instead of concentrating on our own lives. So while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying each moment and making the most of our time, let’s try not to get so caught up in living in the present that we forget to enjoy everything else life has to offer as well.