Everyone knows that FOMO is the fear of missing out and is fueled by the perception that everyone else's life is much cooler than yours. As a result of FOMO, we find ourselves either trying to keep up, or feeling down about the fact that our lives are relatively lame. Notice the use of the word relatively. I believe FOMO wouldn't exist without comparison, and as Theodore Roosevelt once said, "comparison is the thief of joy." I'm not here to debate whether or not that statement is true, but I know from experience that I don't find joy in getting caught up in the comparison game and feeling like I'm missing out all the time. This is where JOMO comes in.
I know what you might be thinking—"did she just make up her own word?"—and I would love to say yes, but the answer is no, I sadly cannot take credit for this concept that brilliantly rivals FOMO. JOMO, as you may have already guessed, is the joy of missing out, and I personally would take joy over fear any day.
While the reality is that we will most likely never really stop having FOMO altogether, the more we allow ourselves to find joy in missing out, the less we will fear it. So how do we do that? To be honest, it's not simple and it takes discipline, but if you think experiencing a little more joy is worth the challenge, then keep reading.
The biggest key to experiencing JOMO, is to pinpoint the cause of FOMO and start limiting how much you allow that source to influence you. For most of us, that source is most-likely social media, but as far as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc., it might vary slightly. Figure out which platform really sends you into a spiral of comparison and go on it a little less. If you really want to challenge yourself—maybe even unplug and delete those apps off of your phone for a period of time. I personally think social media is great for certain things, but it can definitely have negative mental implications, so I am also a believer in moderation. The less you see the "cool" things everyone else is doing, the less you'll be able to compare your life with others', and you know what they say—ignorance is bliss!
Now that we've located and limited the source of our FOMO, it's time to start actually living your life, and not through your iPhone lens. Don't get me wrong—I'm a photographer and love capturing moments for the sake of the mems, but if your intention is to have the coolest Instagram, then put the camera away my friend. Live in the moment when you're at a concert or the beach, or hiking that cool mountain, and maybe snap a pic or two, but stop worrying about making everyone think your life is cool, and worry about your life actually being cool. I promise you won't regret actually taking time to enjoy the adventures life takes you on. And if you don't ever actually do anything cool or fun, well then plan stuff! Adventures aren't going to fall into your lap, you have to make them happen!
Friends, it's time to give FOMO the boot and start letting JOMO move in because I promise it's much more rewarding. Cheers to experiencing more joy and less fear!
