Beyond the Hashtag: The Struggle To Truly Live In the Moment
Social media often advertises the correct or ideal way of living. Their posts describe concepts such as being true to yourself and living in the moment. One would think that those who preach these ways of living would at least adopt them themselves.
Getting the most out of these lessons requires the viewer to read between the lines and notice what the real truths and positive takeaways are. Remember that video you watched:
What really was memorable about it?
What good came out of it?
Was it really true?
The person on the screen is not the ideal person; they are not the perfect being. Look at them telling you to live in the moment when they aren’t! They are ignoring the world around them to bring you a video.
Some call that dedication, but isn’t dedication more often than not linked with good things?
Almost always, at the end of every video, no matter the topic, are the words “don’t forget to subscribe.” The creator is just showing you their sole purpose of creating the content. Yes, it could have been to educate or to help, but in today’s world, it is hard to believe that is what it’s about.
Hours would have been spent on creating the perfect video about how perfection isn’t important. Life would have frozen for that person talking about living in the moment. Can we really believe in these ideas when we can’t trust the very person preaching them believes in them?
The Takeaways
Maybe they were right; we should live in the moment or be true to ourselves. Even if they were right, why aren’t we doing it?
It’s obvious to people that influencers and social media aren’t honest or accurate. But if you want a change in the world, you have to be the one to see it through; no one else will do it for you.
If you want people to live in the moment, you have to find an honest way of telling them that. People don’t change that easily; they need a reason to do anything. There needs to be something they will get out of it.
The harsh truth is people won’t change for others. As much as we like to think that we are kind, that we put others before ourselves, we don’t. You may do these things in your actions, but in reality, in your head, you put yourself first. Why should I change myself if I won’t get anything out of it?
Linking this back to social media, the concept of reading between the lines comes back. The messages being put forward by these influencers are good, but they are not being seen through. By this, I don’t mean a system that requires you to. I mean people thinking about what’s happening outside or in the rest of the world. What’s life if it can’t be lived?
How to Live in the Moment
There is no specific way to live in the moment; it’s not a one-size-fits-all. Living in the moment is taking time for yourself, realising that life is happening, the world is always evolving and people change. Technology more often than not gets in the way of living in the moment. As a species, Homo sapiens live in their alternate reality of technology, which we created.
What if we aren’t better off living in the moment?
What if we are better off thinking of the future or the past?
Where do you stand?
Are you anchored in the past, rooted in the present, or always looking ahead?
And why, despite all the advice, are so many of us still struggling to live in the moment?
Let’s start the conversation. What’s stopping us from living in the moment?
Please leave you thoughts in the comments section below.
Aria Raina Kumar
Meet Aria—our junior editor at ISBUND and a whirlwind of curiosity, creativity and ambition! Proud of her Kashmiri roots, Aria draws inspiration from her heritage, her family and the world around her. Whether she’s running across the cricket ground, building intricate LEGO masterpieces or diving into the mysteries of Science and Maths, Aria brings energy and imagination to everything she does. Her love for learning is matched only by her big dreams: Aria hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon, blending her fascination with the human brain and her drive to help others. Until then, she’s busy exploring new ideas, taking on school projects and proving that you’re never too young to chase after what excites you. When she’s not exploring new projects, debating strategies with her friends or letting her imagination run wild, Aria is always ready for the next adventure. For her, every day is a chance to discover something new with a fearless heart and a mind hungry for discovery.
13 Comments
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Moksha laxmi
Beautifully written, Aria. Your piece felt like a much needed pause a moment of clarity in the chaos of curated lives. In a world where we’re constantly scrolling, posting, and performing, it’s so easy to forget how to simply be. You’ve put into words what many of us feel but rarely admit. What’s stopping us from living in the moment? Maybe it’s the pressure to show that we’re happy even when we’re not. Sometimes we trade real joy for a few likes, or try to freeze a perfect frame while the moment quietly passes us by. Your piece is such a gentle yet powerful reminder to pause, breathe, and be present not for the camera, but for ourselves. Thank you for writing this.
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Ekta Chauhan Koul
Agree. Nowadays, ‘what will I post’ becomes the first criteria while planning trips, get-togethers, dining scenes, etc. We are no longer ‘living’ our lives. Instead, we are busy framing unreal moments for the world to see. This article truly hits the nail on head! Good one, Aria. Keep writing! 🙂
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Minesh
Nice one Aria!
The past and the future are distractions. NOW is all we have got. We should try to live it 100%.
What does that mean?
If we lived the present 100% we would attain moksha as we would understand the oneness of it all.
It isn’t easy living 100% in the present. People spend decades of tapasya to get there. As such it is important to get started and keep moving in the right direction. You seem to be doing that and that makes me happy.
However, a note of caution…
There is a darkness of judgement in your words e.g. against social media influencers. They are all lost, as much as you and me, but maybe in different ways. If we are all lost, there is no hierarchy. No one is better or worse than the other. We are all lost, in our own way. We all have our ours chains, that hinder us from breaking free. We seek solace in temporary things. We could break free in a moment. We could attain nirvana in a moment but unfortunately we are not ready for that moment…. We don’t get to that moment. It comes to us. We are graced by it but we need to be ready for it.
We all are seeds capable of reaching our full potential. However, for a seed to germinate it has to break open. To become a butterfly you have to journey through a cocoon.
Getting started and being true to our journey is all we should be focussing on.
If you wish to dig deeper into anything I have said, please drop me a line.
🙏
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Sheetal Raina
Absolutely agree with you Aria.
In chasing the idea of “living in the moment,” it’s easy to get caught up in the performance or the pressure to show we are present, rather than truly experiencing life’s depth and nuance.
As you point out, real presence means pausing the curated narratives and distractions, so we don’t miss the authentic beauty and meaning unfolding around us.
This is a thoughtful reminder that the essence of life is found not in capturing the moment, but in being fully immersed in it.-
Kamlesh Kumar
The past is often seen as a distraction—but it’s also where some of our most valuable lessons live. The irony is, while everyone tells us to move on, very few are willing to pause and truly learn from the past. Ignoring it doesn’t erase it. Reflecting on it helps us grow.”
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Smritik@jay
Beautifully written Aria !! A must read article for all ❤️ the topic the words are very impressive. Just surprised that how beautiful u have narrated the things . Very proud
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Soumyakanta Mishra
A very well written, thought provoking and not too verbose piece of article to reflect our own self awareness of whether we are in a race to capture and indent our lives precious moments or not to.. Highlighting the importance of looking beyond surface-level messages and encourages deeper thinking about authenticity and personal growth. A powerful reminder to question what we’re consuming—and why.
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Shivani
Aria, this is an outstanding piece! It’s inspiring to see young thinkers tackle such complex subjects with clarity and insight. I resonate with almost everything you’ve shared. In my own quest to “keep it real” (my life motto and Instagram bio 🤣), I’ve purged my feed of countless influencer profiles. Particularly the glamorous looking new moms in their hourglass figures, mastering motherhood online (or at least conning us to believe so), making me doubt myself at 3am. While we often turn to influencers for their tips, tricks, hacks, and trends, it’s vital to stay true to ourselves and embrace ourself – perfectly imperfect!!!
I’m on the fence when it comes to snapping photos. I strongly believe that capturing life’s raw and precious moments allows us to revisit those memories years later – offering comfort during tough times, and, at times, a bittersweet longing for loved ones no longer with us. On the other hand, I agree wholeheartedly that obsessively adjusting the zoom/portrait mode focus on our cameras can rob us of living in the present. Even posting EVERYTHING online about our lives feels very impersonal – it’s taking “my life is an open book” to a literal digital social media level.
Once again, fantastic article, Aria – I can’t wait to read more of your work!
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Anonymous
You truly nailed it Aria!
Next time, I promise to enjoy that meal before it gets cold. You may only get to see a picture of half-eaten pie, but that’s ok. You will know I enjoyed the pie first. -
Sudha koul
I really liked this article. It shows how social media can make us forget to enjoy real life. It’s a good reminder to stop and live in the moment. Thank you for writing this!
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Sarla Sumbly
My dear Aria,
Your writing shows such wisdom and warmth and I am so very proud of your storytelling skills. Every word you write comes straight from your heart and it touches mine deeply. You have a special gift to make your readers feel and think. As your Nani, nothing brings me more happiness than seeing you express yourself so beautifully. Keep shining and sharing your stories with the world, your words truly make a difference.
With all my love and blessings,
Nani -
Kamlesh Kumar
Well said, Aria—especially in the first paragraph! You’ve captured a message I’ve also been trying to express. You chose a very timely topic, and I really enjoyed the questions you raised.
Your reflections made me think of a point I’m planning to explore in my upcoming article, “EV vs Gas.” I believe the same kind of critical thinking you applied to social media should also be used in everyday life—like when we talk to family, friends, or even make big decisions as consumers.
One part of your article that really stood out was the idea of a “filtration system.” That metaphor works beautifully. Just like people use water filters when they don’t trust the city supply, we need to use mental filters when consuming content—on social media or elsewhere. Some content creators offer helpful insights, others promote messages that may not be genuine. It’s up to us to filter wisely.
And yes, even our parents use filters in a way—think of airline rewards programs or branded choices. We’re all doing some form of selective engagement.
You also touched on a big truth about change. As you said, it’s not always easy. Sometimes, people don’t really change—they just present a new version of themselves. That line really hit me.
In fact, I’ve debated this very topic with your Tauji (uncle) after we both watched the same content creator. We walked away with completely different interpretations—and yes, your mom overheard our debate too!
Keep writing, Aria. You’re asking the right questions, and you’re already making people think.
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Aria! I just finished reading your article, and I’m so impressed! The way you explored the hypocrisy of social media influencers and the challenges of truly living in the moment is really insightful.You’ve got a real talent for writing,this is so inspiring and I can’t wait to see what you write next! ❤️