“Living for the moment” has been pushed as part of the pop cultural revolution of the 1960s.
It has always been extremely destructive.
No problem. At my age I spend most of my time in the past ... so to speak.
I never have liked the “live in the present” idea. Animals live in the present because they live by instinct with little or no memory or planning for the future. The ability to not live in the present is one thing that separates us from animals.
That’s why I prefer to live in the future. “Tomorrow I’ll mow the grass. Tomorrow I’ll go to the store. Tomorrow I’ll clean the gutters.”
The only moment we have is the present moment. When the next one comes, it too is the present moment. Live the best you can in this moment and you set a chain of causation for the next one.
Now is the only time we CAN live.
“Class is not determined by one’s relationship to the means of production but by how far ahead one plans.”
Father of a small child, neighbor, years ago.
Tell me how “living for the moment” and raising children are in any way compatible.
If you live for the present, you discard all morals and make yourself the center of the universe at the peril of your immortal soul. This does not make for a very lovable person.
Recently counseling a young teen about current behavior, I asked, “What is maturity?”
And then I explained that it is the ability to see the future consequences of today’s decisions, and to choose that which will result in the best future.
I was going to try and leave some out, but Paul writes such full sentences and context is key. As for what gives hope and not despair...Philippians 3
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
The past is gone, the future doesn’t exist yet, guess I’d better recognize that all I have is the present and give thanks to The Lord for such.
Peace of mind is important. But it doesn’t pay the bills.
Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. - KJV
Living for the moment reeks of hedonism and irresponsibility.
Living in the moment keeps one grounded.
Most who live for the moment haven't a clue until they get older and less hale and can't figure out why they got stuck on rung 2 of the ladder of life and how they'll live on Alpo income....
You know who live completely in the present? Babies.