There is a new syndrome in town and it’s becoming a world-wide epidemic. It’s something you might be suffering from right now and it’s very serious. What it is? Check out this scenario and let me know if any of it sounds familiar?
This weekend I consciously and intentionally decided to stay home and celebrate Halloween at home. instead of flying down to Las Vegas for Phish. I felt good about my decision. That is until I turned on my phone and started scrolling down my Facebook feed seeing photo after photo like these:
There are three ways to react to a situation as serious as this one:
- I could put down my phone and happily continue planning my awesome Halloween plans at home.
- I may feel a slight twang of regret that I’m not soaking in the sun at the MGM Grand pool before the show.
- I might start sweating from anxiety and grief because my life is boring and I’m potentially missing out on the most amazing experience of my life. I could be so distraught that I decide not to go out at all and cry myself to sleep.
What would you do? If you answered number 1, your mental health is in impeccable shape. You are free from the insecurities that most humans with an ego have. You’ve done the soul-work and you can stop reading this blog right now because you’re all good!
If you answered numbers 2 or 3 you are suffering from this syndrome and it’s serious. It’s called Fear of Missing Out Syndrome (aka FOMO.)
The good news is there is a cure for FOMO. Phew!
The first step is acceptance. There is only one of you and if you tried to cut yourself in half you would not survive the surgery. You can’t always be doing the most exciting thing at every single moment of every single day. You wouldn’t want to anyway. It’s exhausting to be the most interesting person in the world all the time.
The second step is knowing that when it comes to suffering from FOMO, you can’t win. Chances are the person you are jealous of who is sharing all the exciting things they are doing are also suffering from at least a little bit of FOMO themselves. If you are working that hard to show everyone how awesome your life is, it’s possible that your need to do that might be fueled by your own FOMO.
The third step is to admit that your FOMO is not your phone or computer’s fault. It existed years ago when we didn’t get invited to the popular girl’s birthday party and even before that when we weren’t picked to be a gladiator in ancient Rome.
The forth step is to acknowledge that it’s ok to experience a little bit of FOMO. A little bit of FOMO never hurt anyone. It’s important to get it under control so it doesn’t ruin your own good time. It’s not going to be easy. I’m suffering from it a little bit myself right now. I see all of the pictures of the raging good times so many of you are having without me. I’m tempted to hop on a plane to get my ass out there right now. But that’s not what is going to happen and that’s ok.
Instead of focusing on what I’m not doing and what I’m missing out on, I’m going to shift the sh*t out of it. I’m going to tell my FOMO what’s up.
“FOMO, I hear ya sister. This weekend is going to be amazing because I’m here and I’m awesome! I’m going to rage it with my friends at home and have the best time ever. Thank you for trying to protect me from feeling left out, but I don’t need that protection anymore. I’ve got this.”
When you acknowledge your thoughts and feelings for what they are, remember how awesome YOUR life is and then finally let that un-serving thought know you no longer need it, you’ve unlocked a powerful tool that can kick any form of FOMO in the ass.
Are you suffering from FOMO right now? How are you going to tell FOMO what’s up? Please share what you said to your FOMO in the comments section below.
We work on this on a deeper level in my Rock Your Life Mentorship program starting mid-November. Find out more and apply >>> here.
The awesome in me sees and bows to the awesome in you,
