A motif throughout the maturing process, one that is likely very pertinent for college students and recent graduates, is the conflict between valuing your present or your future. There is an extreme difficulty in finding the right balance: do you stay completely present and focus on making the most out of the resources you have at hand in the present? Or do you weigh the long term consequences of some of those choices that might be fun in the present, but end up working against you in the long term?
Just to get your mind thinking, here is an easy example that is widely applicable, but definitely relevant to college students: drinking. It's entertaining, it's social, it's college. But where does it become too much? Where does it begin to infringe on the longterm benefits that could be reaped otherwise?
In this sense, we are really talking about the opportunity cost of doing something that you value more so in the present than something that might provide better benefit in the long term, but seem disadvantageous in the present. Back to our drinking example, it might seem fun to drink and go out every night: it provides an easy way to socialize, it can be fun and provide entertainment and possibly even some funny stories to look back on. But at what point does the marginal benefit decrease to the point there is no longer a real reason to drink every day?
I'll illustrate an example. Let's assume all college students enjoy some form of drinking and all college students want to have a baseline of success in their academic studies and must therefore spend time studying during the week. I would consider these to be common perceptions across the average college students. Ronaldo doesn't even drink everyday, but he loves to drink from the time he finishes school on Thursday until the wee hours of Saturday morning. As a result, he loses productivity and experiences a lower level of sleep over the weekend every weekend. The result? The lower productivity will cause him to have to compensate by giving up other things that are vital to human wellbeing (I.e. exercise, sober socializing, going outdoors, etc...) in order to get the work done that he needs to before the next week starts. In doing so, Ronaldo prioritizes the fun he experiences when drinking, but sacrifices his longterm well-being (especially mental well-being) as a result. Is this a good sacrifice for him? Who knows? Therein lies the difficulty.
It is truly up to the individual to determine what is the right amount to value the present versus the future. Let's take the converse example. Kristina wants to become a doctor - it's been her dream since she was a little kid. She is so obsessed with getting into an exceptional med school, all she focuses on is school. She refrains from going drinking with friends and keeps her nose in the books because she is afraid that if she spends too much time away from the books, other people will excel past her. There is nothing wrong with the perception, but again, the emphasis on the future takes away from the possible happiness that could be had in the short term. By doing this, Kristina damages her mental well being by not giving herself breaks from school and refraining from drinking.
Though these are two extreme examples, I hope they help to illustrate this paradox I am attempting to outline: given that a human has the ability to value the future, the present, or a combination of the two, what balance is ideal in maximizing happiness?
To be continued...
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