Been there, done that.

It's something you don't ask to go through, it just happens. It's a word that everybody cringes when they hear, changes the subject when it gets brought up, and even if they are struggling with a bad case of FOMO, they will never actually admit that they have the FOMO, even if it is obvious and clear on our end that they have it really bad...

But what are you missing out on anyway? Are you missing out on what other people are doing? Are exciting memories being made without YOU? Since when did everything start to become all about YOU anyway? I hate to break it to you, but the FOMO disease is actually really selfish. Are we not called to living selflessly? The last time I had checked, we as human beings are called to living a pure and selfless life, not a selfish life. This world does not revolve around one person and how they are feeling, and it never will.

Social Media is the devil. If you don't have the FOMO now, you most certainly will if you are revolving your life around social media. People who are continuously checking in, "liking" things on social media, and keeping up by the minute, caring about what everyone is doing and with whom are definitely suffering with the disease of FOMO. Why do you care so much about what everyone is doing in the first place? If you live your life constantly taking things personally, being concerned with how other people are living their life and the choices that they are making, what is the point of life anyway?

Here are some symptoms for this so-called disease.

1. You feel the need to be invited to everything, and if you don't get invited, you wonder why.

2.You push yourself into situations and into other groups so you can get invited, but you don't realize you are doing it.

3. You find yourself trying to gain acceptance and approval from others through friendships.

4. You are typically the first and last one to leave a social gathering.

5. You're addicted to social media, constantly checking for updates, and more concerned about other people's lives than making memories of your own.

6. You take things personally, all the time.

7. You believe that everyone is your best friend and that you need to "catch up" with every single person you come in contact with.

8. You're constantly thinking about the event that you missed out on.

9. You find yourself planning events, always always always. Events all the time!

10. When you have plans, you find yourself still thinking about what other people's plans are instead of enjoying your own.

I'm sorry, but you have a really bad case of this so-called disease.

This so-called disease can ruin your life. You can get so caught up in what other people are doing with their lives, wondering why you didn't get invited, and you can start to believe a lie that they must not like you and or that you are not "cool" enough. You do not need to be consistently worried about earning the approval of others. It is not worth it. If you are struggling with FOMO, take a deep breath, and relax. Remind yourself that nobody's life is perfect even when it seems that way from a social media standpoint.

It is time to let go of comparisons and focus on what you want to get out of this life that has been given to you. Just remember that you can't have it all, all at the same time. Don't miss out on what is happening in the present and the opportunities that are awaiting for you to take. It's okay if someone doesn't like you, and don't take it personally by trying to earn their acceptance. Life happens, let go, and just live.