Posts Tagged: the truly good

“Living in the moment or for the moment?”

Prepositions are little words that matter a lot.

For example, think of two statements that sound almost identical:

“I’m living in the moment.”

“I’m living for the moment.”

The same difference?  I don’t think so!

Living in the moment is a good thing.  In fact, when else can any of us really live?  Living in the past is another word for nostalgia or regret.  However, it can scarcely be said to be really living.

Living in the future is either fantasy or anxiety.  Again, neither of these is truly living.

The present is where it is at.  This does not apply only to an enjoyable present.  Often, the present is not enjoyable.  To pretend otherwise is not wise.

Still, to attempt to live somewhere other than where I am at any given moment is not simply unwise; it is impossible.  Being at some time that isn’t present is like being some where you’re not.

So much for the important preposition “in!”  What about “for?”

Living for the moment is another matter altogether.

This philosophy of life is encapsulated in a saying from the 1960s: “If it feels good, do it!”  I heard a speaker once say, that whenever he saw that saying on a bumper sticker, he always wanted to rear-end the car.  When the driver asked, “Why did you do that?!?” the speaker was going to say, “I just always thought it would feel good!”  I am assuming that the speaker never followed through on this fantasy.

I have often tried this approach, and it has never worked out well for me.  Perhaps this is not true of everyone, but for me, every time I’ve tried it, I have regretted it (or at least the outcome).  I’ve said the first thing that came to mind, and lost a friend, or hurt my wife.  I’ve eaten impulsively, and gained weight—as recently as yesterday!  You get the picture.

Of course, this “live-for-the-moment” approach would work very well, if in fact what felt good for the moment was truly good.  However, I do not think that feeling good can be identified with what is good.  In fact, they are frequently (though not always) sworn enemies.

I’m sure that some of my readers are saying to themselves, “Well, the good sounds pretty dismal.  I don’t think I’m interested.”  So, let me come in with a good word for the truly good.

I believe that the truly good feels good in the long term.  However, it simply does not feel good in the short term.

More about this in tomorrow’s post!

 

 

 

Follow on Feedly