by Venchito Tampon | Last Updated on November 28, 2016

yolo

Originally from Drake’s song “The Motto” in his 2-minute mark, YOLO means “You Only Live Once.”

This popular phrase (commonly used with hashtag) is what I often see millennials talk and shout all over the Internet.

People talk about it because it seems to be legit and motivational at the same time.

But for me?

YOLO – I don’t believe in it.

Here are the reasons why:

1. It is an escape route to face reality.

With the overwhelming demands, expectations, rapid changes, and challenges we face every day, it’s easy to think about ways on how to escape them.

Yes, it’s true you can’t solve problems all at once.

But if you always want to avoid facing tomorrow, you won’t progress in life.

You do all the things that seem right for you today – partying, drinking, excessive leisure, so on and so forth. But make sure you face all their equivalent consequences.

2. It blocks out what you should have fully prepared

The “bahala na” mindset that we have as Filipinos is always accompanied with YOLO.

“I only live once. I don’t have to prepare for tomorrow. Let my presentation tomorrow take care of itself”.

Heard this from your friend?

Here’s the thing.

If you don’t prepare today, you don’t just fail tomorrow’s test (whatever form it could be), you also miss out one, two or many opportunities ahead of it.

For example, You have a marketing campaign presentation tomorrow, and your boss requires a comprehensive plan for a product your company is about to launch.

But because you don’t give your best shot in the preparation phase, you get mental block during the middle of your presentation.

As a result, you don’t just fail to provide the right and insightful information that your boss deserves to get, you also miss out opportunities ahead, such as getting another opportunity to present to a more senior level of managers, which might be plus points for your promotion (if you get it right again).

You also miss the opportunity to get more favor from your boss which can help you get a broader learning scope from him as he can transfer you to a new learning project/task that your other teammates won’t get.

These may not be the same opportunities you’ll lose, but there’ll be big opportunities ahead that should have brought you closer to success.

3. It reflects fear instead of courage.

YOLO pictures fear rather than courage.

There is a bigger reason why you want to do extreme things on one night or day. You know it.

But fear keeps you from facing challenges head on.

It’s a sad reality.

But there’s the thing.

If you keep YOLO away from your mindset, you start preparing for the things to be done tomorrow.

Preparation builds that confidence and gives you an edge over others who also want to achieve much.

Instead of relying on your YOLO mindset, build up your faith by doing your best to prepare daily.

4. It promotes selfishness (the idea that it’s only you who’ll be affected).

The extreme of doing negative things isn’t equivalent to greatness.

You can justify the wrong things in this world, but the truth will always remain the same.

We are bombarded with the idea that whatever we do, there is only a single impact on us. It won’t impact others because it’s a personal choice anyway.

WRONG.

Whether you’ve done it intentionally or accidentally, there’ll always be people who will be affected by the choices you make every day.

Don’t be selfish. Consider others before you decide.

Decide wisely.