OPINION
Focusing on the Future Leaves Us Forever Unsatisfied Hannah Sachs
Kajsa Murphy
Olivia Poell
T
he unknown nature of the future is as easily a blessing as it is So what’s the response to any internal disappointment when perfection fails to be accurately replicated? It’s really quite simple. a curse. For one, the future is seemingly made up of limitless You remember the future is unlimited and create a new image to possibilities, which allow for hopeful imagination and inspired chase. Then do it all over again, leaving dissatisfaction sprinkled pursuits of “better.” On the other hand, limitless possibilities also behind, casting a sour flavor over every reality you experience. allow for endless fixation on just what exactly “better” is. Since When the future is the only thing in sight, it’s easy for the the idea of “better” itself is indefinite, it comes as easily as second nature to begin mentally spiraling in the name of an ever-evolving present to lose value in our mind. Instead of being a moment in time itself, the present instead becomes merely a means of chasgoal. Our imaginaing the future and a tions are unstepping stone to restricted and unreachable perfection. Not only infinite, and when that, but obsession paired with the with the future open-endedness leaves the present of the future, to deal with the we’re able to dissatisfaction imagine future brought upon by scenarios in our reality while the heads that are future remains imincredibly personages of perfection alized and inspired and possibility. by our most By doing this, we honest desires. are doing ourselves We are efforta disservice. The lessly able to place present is the only images of the moment in which picture-perfect we exist, and if the life into our minds future is not whenever we approached with want, and since the right mindset, the future is truly Living your life in anticipation of the future will most definitely leave the present feeling unsatisthe present will unknown, there’s factory and inadequate. take on sacrifices always a slight and burdens for a possibility these imaginations could actually develop into reality. That slight moment we’ll never truly experience. If we live in our minds, potential is easy to cling onto, but it ignores our imagination’s where perfection runs rampant, the present can truly never greatest flaw: the images in our head are never fool-proof compare, leaving the moment we actually get to experience against reality. forever dull and unsatisfactory. Clinging onto the minimal potentiality of dreams becoming realDismissing the present as merely a step to the future robs us ity is what keeps the future exciting and motivating. Picture-perof our chances to experience and enjoy the future holistically for fect ideas of the future can act as one of the most effective what it is: dynamic and vivacious, adventurous and safe, chaotic motivations, but I’m hesitant because of how that leads to the and serene, undefined and desirable. The present always exists ignorance of reality. I do not struggle with the idea that the future while the future never does. There will always be bigger, better should be approached with optimism and dream-filled eyes that futures implanting themselves into our imaginations like seeds. fuel hard work. I struggle with the future being approached as an They’ll grow and they’ll strengthen and they’ll secure a place assurance that the images in our head will come to fruition. within us, but they’ll never enter reality as beautiful as they were No matter what dazzling heights we achieve, very rarely does in our heads. Dissatisfied, we’ll try again and again, always ignoring the exact image in our head become reality. There are always flourishing shades and comforting scents from gardens right in missing details or additional struggles or unimagined emotions front of us just to give attention to mere colors and smells that after reality plays its hand. With such a perfect image made in our are truly unknown and will forever rest buried within the walls of head, comparison comes naturally, leaving tinges of dissatisfaction our imaginations. everywhere.
26 DROPS OF INK
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5/13/2021 5:25:32 PM
