How to Deal with FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out)

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Are you ever troubled by FOMO – the fear of missing out?  You see someone else living an apparently better life – making more money, traveling to exciting places, displaying a super fit body, going out with friends - and suddenly yours isn’t that great.  This comparison does indeed steal our joy.  So what can you do about it?

Limit Exposure to Triggers: Identify situations, people, or environments that trigger your comparisons and try to limit your exposure to them.  This might mean avoiding certain social settings or conversations and reducing screen time.

Shift Your Perspective: Rather than viewing the success of others as a threat, choose to use it to inspire you. If that is possible for someone else, then it is possible for you.  Celebrate this opportunity.

Count Your Blessings: Focus on what you have rather than what you lack.  Record your gratitude in a journal. As the saying goes, “What you appreciate, appreciates.”

Express Yourself: Identify and express your unique strengths and talents.  Consider the wisdom of Brené Brown in her book The Gifts of Imperfection: “Creativity, which is the expression of our originality, helps us stay mindful that what we bring to the world is completely original and cannot be compared.  And, without comparison, concepts like ahead or behind or best or worst lose their meaning.”

Also, try EFT Tapping when you find yourself feeling like you’re missing out on something.  Check out my video on this topic.