How To Overcome Fear Of Missing Out

People are constantly bombarded with alerts, that make them feel like they're missing out on the things, that they should be doing. Believe it or not, this can cause stress and other mental health issues, but it doesn't have to.

Sometimes, you may feel that society puts upon you an exaggerated responsibility of not only being informed on trending subjects, but to also be up-to-date on the latest happenings. If this is your experience, I feel your pain. In today's frenzied world of digital overload, it's easy to let fear creep in.

It's a common fear, that many individuals are faced with on a constant basis. It can lead to limited choices in life, that can be puzzling and confusing to experience, especially when it comes to choosing a career.

The Causes Of Fear Of Missing Out

There are many causes of this fear. Some people suffer from a deep-seated insecurity of not being able to perform in the current social landscape. Others are constantly bombarded by new and different stimuli, that they fear they will not be able to process if they don't keep up.

There are those who are concerned, that their life will suffer if they miss out on something important. There are even those, who feel it will impact their future if they don't keep up with the latest news. Whatever the cause, this fear of missing out has the potential to severely limit a person's decision-making process.

People deal with this fear in many different ways. It can be very debilitating and it can even lead to anxiety and other types of mental health issues. However, there are other options available and many people manage to lead quite a fulfilling lives despite the constant stress of being informed on all things relevant to the culture. It just depends on how you go about dealing with it. There are different ways to relieve this stress and it really just depends on what works for you.

Why FOMO Causes A Lot Of Trouble

You may be wondering why this fear of missing out has such a strong hold over people. Well, this has a lot to do with the psychology of human behavior. Ever notice how much our media and advertising manipulates our sense of self-importance? It's a subtle form of advertising, but it's all about the subconscious messages we receive.

For example, you're likely to overestimate your own abilities and underestimate everyone else's. This is a very common occurrence. You're also more likely to be persuaded to buy a product, if you see someone recommended for that product, rather than if it was simply given to them at no cost.

The subconscious part of your brain is constantly bombarded with messages every single day. Some of them are useful, and some of them are not. With so much noise, it's very hard to hear what's useful and what's not.

You're not alone in this predicament. Most people have probably experienced this at one time or another. Some of us learn to shut out the noise, while others of us don't. If you're not careful, it can even manifest physically. It's a common occurrence for people suffering from anxiety or depression to be plagued by headaches, stomach aches, or even painful insomnia.

Mental health is a very sensitive issue and many people will go to great lengths to maintain the status quo of not wanting to rock the boat. Others still are just going through the motions of doing things, that they don't really believe in.

Because of this, many people's moral compasses are compromised. Being self-centered is not only natural, it's also necessary. The opinions of others don't matter to you as much as they should. Sometimes, it's not even the opinions of others, that you disregard, but rather the opinions of others' opinions of you. This is a very dangerous mindset to have.

Why Overcoming FOMO Is Important

The most important reason why overcoming FOMO is important is simple: in a world of infinite options, it's impossible to know everything. It's impossible to be the absolute best at everything. It's also impossible to be the absolute worst at anything.

There will always be a winner and a loser in any given situation and you want to be a winner. Overcoming FOMO is about developing the courage and confidence to stand out from the crowd. It's not about being the best at everything. It's about finding your passion and honing your craft. It's about getting out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

FOMO can easily be overcome. I'm not going to pretend, that it's a battle that can't be won. I'm not going to pretend that it's not something, that can be escaped. It can. However, overcoming FOMO is a process and not an event. It's a journey and not a destination. Along the way, you make mistakes and fall flat on your face. That's just part of the process. The process is what brings you from a state of being ordinary to being extraordinary.

Self-Awareness Can Help You Overcome FOMO

This is a big one. Many people tend to think, that being self-aware is the same thing as being selfish. Nothing could be further from the truth. The more self-aware you are, the less of a victim you will become to outside stimuli. You won't be easily influenced by the constant barrage of noise. You'll be able to pick out the tune of your life from the cacophony of others.

The first step towards that goal is understanding your own feelings and thoughts. You can't do that if you don't understand why you're feeling a certain way. You need to be able to recognize your own emotions and those of others around you. You also need to be willing to acknowledge your own biases. You're going to have them, because we're all human. What you need to do is become more aware of them and don't let them control you. You can't do any of those things if you don't know what they are. If you're too afraid to find out, you may never overcome FOMO.

Thank you for reading.