Have you ever said “yes” to something just because you didn’t want to feel left out? Or caught yourself scrolling through Instagram and suddenly felt like everyone else is living a better life than you?
I’ve been there—more times than I can count.
That strange discomfort, that inner voice whispering “you should go,” “you’re falling behind,” “everyone else is doing more…”—that’s FOMO. The Fear of Missing Out. And it’s more common (and more exhausting) than we think.
What Psychology Says About FOMO
Psychologists define FOMO as the anxiety that others might be having rewarding experiences from which we are absent. In other words, it’s the fear that we’re being left out of something good.
Social media amplifies this. We’re constantly bombarded with highlight reels: the vacations, the parties, the wins. What we don’t see? The messy moments, the loneliness, the in-between days. No wonder we sometimes feel like our lives don’t measure up.
And it’s not just a passing feeling. Research has linked FOMO to higher stress, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction. It pulls us away from the present moment and into a spiral of comparison and self-doubt.
My Personal Wake-Up Call
I remember going to an event I didn’t even want to attend. I was exhausted, emotionally drained, and all I wanted was to rest. But the fear of being the only one who didn’t show up pushed me out the door. I ended up feeling more disconnected being there than I would’ve felt if I’d stayed home.
That was a turning point for me.
From FOMO to JOMO
That’s when I discovered the idea of JOMO—the Joy of Missing Out. It’s not about isolating yourself or avoiding people. It’s about giving yourself permission to say “no” to what doesn’t align with you. It’s about choosing presence over pressure.
JOMO is tuning into your real needs. It’s skipping the event because you’re tired—not lazy. It’s closing the app when you start comparing. It’s finding peace in your own path, even when it looks different from others’.
And most importantly, it’s realizing that we’re not actually missing out on as much as we think.
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need to be everywhere.
You don’t need to do everything.
You don’t need to measure your life against someone else’s highlight reel.
Sometimes, choosing you—your rest, your peace, your priorities—is the most connected and powerful choice you can make.
Have you ever felt stuck between saying “yes” out of fear or “no” out of self-respect?
You’re not alone—and it’s okay to choose differently now.
Add comment
Comments