Present and future are not contradictory, but sequential. The hands-on present or future dilemma is a pseudo-dilemma created by us, within us, and against us.
Indeed, there are people whose “living the moment” inclinations are notably stronger than their “what does the future hold?” questions. On the other hand, many of us have caught ourselves being extremely focused on the future and neglecting today’s world.
Now please let me pose two questions:
To the impulsive:
“If you only live the moment by completely ignoring your future, does this choice change the fact that one day your future will knock on your door?”
To the hyper-strategists:
“When you make plans by postponing/neglecting your present, does this strategy change the fact that the present is not entirely in your control?”
To both questions, the answer is no.
"Hyper-Strategists, your present is part of your future too"
Your Present and Future support your life's time-balance offering joyful moments, hardships, opportunities, dreams, and lessons learned. Whatever happens to you now, will affect a future decision you will make, either consciously or subconsciously.
Your pseudo-dilemma is based on the affirmation that you’re in complete control of your present and future. In this vein, your impulsive inner-self may think that if you don’t pay attention to the future you affect its impact on you. Respectively, if you are more of a strategist you consider that you have already your plan set with all the alternatives. You forget though that each future alternative may be affected by your current negligence.
For instance, let’s say you plan to buy an apartment with your spouse a year from now. If you are entirely consumed by the loan you will take, by the future obligations the new house will bring, or the monthly savings you should have as a couple while at the same time you neglect your marriage, then who can guarantee you that next year instead of a house you are not going to pay a lawyer for a divorce?
Today precedes tomorrow and we all should treat it as such. Remember, you don’t control everything that happens in your life, but you can control whatever happens in your mind. Your habits, your thoughts, your actions, and your reactions.
Does this mean that sacrificing your present for a greater future is harmful?
Not at all, but don't forget that rules exist to be honored, twisted, and broken at the same time. Sacrificing several aspects of your present in the name of a specific future goal can be quite beneficial in the long term. The key difference lies in the words "several" and "specific".
You see if you want to be a successful doctor and for this purpose, you sacrifice any personal relationship you have (friends, family, colleagues, romantic interest) in the best case scenario you'll reach your 30s having a serious lack in relationship building and people management skills, which are crucial for a successful doctor! In the worst case, you will gradually cultivate the tendency of being lonely for the rest of your life, because this is what will be known and safe to you. There is no need for any of that.
Alternatively, if the sacrifice you make is more partial and less dangerous, but the goal is vague, your sacrifice is empty. Let's say you decide that you will reduce your non-vital expenses to buy an apartment. If you haven't implanted in your mind what kind of apartment you want to buy, what is your deadline, and how much you have to invest for it, then the goal is not specific. Vague goals don't get results.
"Impulsive human beings, planning or not, the Future
is going to come for you"
Moving forward to you, the impulsive. You have to acknowledge that where a plan fails, planning wins. If you treat everything as being a result of luck, timing, or the power of accumulated coincidences, then this is what you will get.
Even if this lifestyle is what you wish, please don’t get mistaken that this is the objective reality. This is your subjective reflection of reality where you deny facing the control you have in your choices while holding completely accountable another superior power (fate, luck, God, karma, etc.) We are in control of our choices. We are not in control of the result. If you are not willing to pay attention to your short or long-term future, this is up to you.
In the same vein, it is up to you not to lose the joy of the moment, your carefree personality, and your adventurous spirit. Life does not give you the dilemma to be in a cage or wild in the jungle. This is your creation by the fear of becoming someone you don't want. In reality, you can enter a cage when a storm is coming then unlock the door go to the jungle, roam on a farm, or be the unconventional citizen among conformist neighbors.
Irrespective of personal judgment though, you have to bear in mind that not thinking about your future doesn’t impede your future from coming. I am well aware that an impulsive person is not a planner, but cautious planning about crucial aspects of your life wouldn’t undermine the quality of the present. This danger is in your head not out there.
And yet, planning your future has nothing to do with becoming conventional. It has to do with your and your family's needs, desires, and ambitions. If you think you can survive in any world not covering any of the three, then sure, you can pick the extra-impulsive version of your life with no worries.