FOMO vs JOMO

FOMO, "Fear Of Missing Out," has been a popular trending hashtag, mantra, and general saying for the last few years. If you're on social media, you've probably seen people posting pictures of themselves at festivals, parties, or other events with "#fomo," showing that they're not missing out on anything! Even if you're not on social media, you've probably heard this acronym and have come to learn what it means.
But, what does it really mean? There is a problem with the concept of FOMO: it encourages people to base their decisions in fear, not joy. Rather than focusing on the events and social circles that bring them joy, they're focused on the ones that they're afraid to miss out on.

What happens when we give into FOMO on a regular basis? We:

• Burn-out from exhaustion
• Say yes all the time
• Feel constantly busy with no time to ourselves
• Feel unfulfilled with time-filler activities
• Lose our individuality

I believe that FOMO appeared with good intentions to encourage people to get out, connect with one another, and create new experiences, but it also feeds our insecurities and doubts.

When I hear people talk about FOMO, I tend to hear the same questions:

• What will I miss out on if I don't go to _____?
• What will people think of me if I'm not at _____?
• What if this is the best ____ of the year?
• What if I miss my chance to meet someone at ____?

All of these questions are focused on the experiences we're missing out on, not the experiences we're gaining.

Now it's time to talk about JOMO: Joy Of Missing Out.
The biggest difference here is that with JOMO, there is no fear! We're focused on making a decision based on what brings us joy. 

When we based our decisions on what brings us joy, we:

• Feel grateful for how we spend our time
• Surround ourselves with healthy relationships
• Set a standard for healthy boundaries with ourselves and others
• Fill ourselves up 
• Feel closer to our authentic self

We learn more about ourselves when we can practice JOMO rather than FOMO. When I talk to people about JOMO, I tend to hear the same questions:

• Which activities bring me joy, and which don't?
• Who are the people in my social circle that bring out the joy inside of me?
• What will I gain from choosing to not attend this event?
• How can I spend my time so that I feel joy?

When we dig deeper into the concept of JOMO, we can see that it's not really about missing out on anything. It's about finding the right people, places, and activities that fill us up with joy, rather than giving into the ones that mitigate our fears. 

So the next time you find yourself thinking about attending an event due to FOMO, I encourage you to consider the benefits of JOMO in your life.