[Essay 1] Flourishing life

No matter how, we should stay focused on present, neither past nor future.

Why? Because, that is the only way in that we can find our lives to be happy.

My concern is not just planning the future, but conducting every moment joyfully.

It is not saying that to think ahead is BS. Rather, to concentrate on present is one of the best ways to make the future even better, as long as you are working for something in any position. Of course, your current job might be not so much relavent to an ultimate goal. But frankly, there's always chance to learn something in all the situations that you may confront.

The point is that we mostly are able to extract good things even from a bad accident. Life is not challenging all the time. Many people say that happiness is waiting behind hardship and then try to "overcome" suffering. Some people, however, can find difficulty meaningful and enjoy the unfortunate moment. (I'm not saying emotionally happy by the way). These two perspectives are slightly different. Trying to overcome something implies that the moment is negative like a heavy burden, looking a positive consequence in future. On the other hand, people who stay focused on the moment don't even come up with the result at all. It doesn't matter how good it would be. They just do what they do for present moment and then they start to think of the result after things are done.

To my understanding, and based on my experience, the latter is a better choice.

"Do not dwell on the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate mind on the present moment." - Buddha