FOMO is Fatal
Most likely, you have heard the term, FOMO.
Honestly, you’ve probably been feeling this in some way or another your whole life, you just haven’t known what to call it.
FOMO, or the “Fear of Missing Out,” is yet another problem that social media has exemplified, taking off the most recently.
But what is FOMO?
For me, FOMO is seeing Snapchats of my best friends at the premiere of a movie I wanted to see but had to pass on due to the looming fear of an upcoming test. As well as scrolling through Instagram. Jealousy skyrockets at the sight of people zip lining in Costa Rica or riding camels through the sands of Morocco.
The ability to view other’s high points in life provides no opportunity for us to be genuinely happy for them. In fact, it has increased the amount of time we waste, remaining stagnant in a constant state of comparison.
What we don’t see is the process. We see an aesthetically pleasing filter, a dazzling smile, and breathtaking surroundings. So why do we long to be somewhere we know absolutely nothing about?
Truth is, we don’t.
Seeing someone else in an ideal situation makes us feel like we should be doing more, traveling more, going out more, and hanging out with friends more.
We’re not focused on experiencing these things for ourselves.
We’re focused on not experiencing these things for ourselves. It’s not about what we’re gaining, but more about what we’re losing.
So next time you’re experiencing FOMO, ask yourself– what will I really benefit from this? Will it make me smarter or happier? And will this have any significance on me in the long run? Do I actually want to do these things, or does it just look better than whatever I’m doing at the moment?
FOMO is psychological torture.
FOMO definitely isn’t an easy thing to forget about, but it’s certainly not something to dwell on.
Learn to be comfortable with yourself, comforted by the idea that you’re on the correct path, making the correct decisions. If you know your priorities, you’ll know how to get there– not even FOMO will be able to blind you.
