"Rowing upstream, swimming to the shore." This proverb illustrates the importance of living a balanced life. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, which often feels unstable, whether economically or socially, many individuals focus on how to respond to changes through planning several years ahead.

Having a future-oriented mindset is a sign of someone's responsibility to improve their life. This is one of the core character-building principles at Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA). UNDIRA upholds three core values: Visionary, Integrity, and Professional. One of the main values, Visionary, emphasizes that students must be able to innovate, foresee potential, and have the right strategy and motivation.

Someone who is future-oriented tends to have a high motivation to keep advancing in mastering various skills, both learned and new. This is crucial, especially amid the waves of layoffs in Indonesia. Mastering various skills to prepare for the future is a prudent step to enhance personal quality, particularly in building a resume when applying for jobs in a world that demands "jack of all trades." A future-oriented mindset also prioritizes optimizing life and financial management to achieve desired goals, making someone more proactive in taking steps efficiently.

However, focusing too much on the future has some drawbacks. Over-preparing for the future can lead to excessive anxiety, or FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), in mastering various skills simultaneously. The phrase “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” describes someone who can do many things but does not focus their expertise on a particular field, causing restlessness in their life. In the workplace, excessive initiative can disrupt teamwork and cause mistrust.

Moreover, being overly focused on the future can reduce mindfulness, or present awareness. The phrase “In search of diamonds, we lost gold,” highlights that lack of mindfulness causes someone to miss valuable moments and opportunities around them.

Besides the Visionary value, UNDIRA also instills Integrity and Professionalism in each of its students. This demonstrates UNDIRA's dedication not only to educating students to look forward but also to focus on the current moment. Integrity symbolizes honesty, responsibility, and consistency in all actions to achieve goals. Meanwhile, Professionalism shapes individuals to work according to protocols, standards, ethics, and regulations in their fields, reflecting UNDIRA's character.

As Confucius stated, "The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Focusing on the present can enhance happiness and emotional well-being as individuals enjoy the small moments in life. Those who live in the "now" strive to make the best of what they have without compromising their focus and happiness.

Having both mindsets, future-oriented and present-focused, is common for every individual. However, by balancing the two mindsets, one can maintain motivation while focusing on what they are currently doing. By finding a balance between being future-oriented and focusing on the present, we can create a more meaningful, productive, and happy life. These two approaches are not conflicting but complement each other to help us achieve long-term goals while enjoying the journey every step of the way.