Acharya Prashant addresses the conflict between living in the present moment and pursuing future goals by distinguishing between ambition and vision. He explains that ambition arises from a sense of inferiority and incompleteness, where one seeks external achievements to find future happiness. In contrast, vision is rooted in present joy and the desire to create conditions that bring one closer to their true self. He emphasizes that being closer to oneself means achieving independence from external influences like media, family, and society, which often dictate what one should become.