The Long and Short Of It

In life, we are constantly faced with decisions that pit our long-term comforts against short-term gratifications. How can one ideally balance between them?

What happens when they are in direct opposition? Clearly, the extremes won't do. Playing purely for instant gratification means a shortsighted life that cannot brace any unexpected impacts. Yet, always planning for the future results in present pleasures being passed over.

Worse yet, what if the they are not directly opposed to each other? What if you cannot see your current path continuing long-term, and yet see no such long-term path if you do not disrupt the short-term as it is? What if the two simply cannot co-exist, but only hint at this antagonism?

What then?