Do You Suffer From FOMO?
A few weeks ago, I received a note from the Chapter President of a business networking group to which I belong. The President’s note indicated that we should look to invite visitors to our chapter meeting, (which indeed is something that we look to do to grow the chapter, and add quality members to help our networking efforts). The President’s note ended that we want to create FOMO on the part of those visitors. I must admit, I had no idea to what she was referring, and so I had to follow up and ask.
I was instructed that FOMO stood for “Fear of Missing Out.” As I continued forward in my life, I discussed this episode with my wife. My wife and I are admittedly both very conservative people, relatively set in our ways and our likes and dislikes. I asked my wife could she see ever having “FOMO” in regards to anything. I really did not think there were many if any things material in nature that would have an impact on her, but she indicated possibly having that feeling if there was an opportunity to go to a place where she had never been, or to one she had enjoyed and possibly had an opportunity to return to. I even saw FOMO highlighted as a “phenomenon” when doing a Google search. I also then saw it mentioned again in a video series I was partaking in as part of my Lenten obligation to become better connected with my faith. Admittedly there, the moderator was knocking the concept of FOMO more than endorsing it, as the way one should live their life.
I tend to be a very analytical person. Additionally, I am blessed to have a very strong memory of people and events in my past, even down to remembering the specific details of incidents which I have experienced. As I have gotten older, I must admit that the items that are obsessive for to me on a regular basis continue to diminish. It does not mean that I will not do something if I can see myself doing it.
However, I am finding myself, “less obsessed” if I do not get to do it first-hand. The best example of this is with spectator sports where as I was growing up, I was obsessed with feeling I had to watch “the big game” when it was live on the air. Now, if another item in my life has me pre-occupied at that time, I know I can always read about it. In fact, the number of sports, for example, that I actually even have a passion about or care for, on a somewhat of a regular basis are Major League Baseball, and the local college basketball team. And, even then I realize that my attachment to those two activities, is that I get to enjoy them directly in time spent with my wife who is also a big fan of both those endeavors.
Is there anything in my life, at this point that I had “Fear of Missing Out” on? Honestly for me the answer was no. That does not mean that I do not look forward to experiences happening that I may not have experienced before. For example, our travels in 2023 had my wife and I in Nashville, Tennessee. As part of the trip, we got to see a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, visit the historic Ryman Auditorium and enjoy the sites and scenes of Nashville. We may have a chance to relive parts of it again in 2024. However, if for some reason we did not get to experience it again, due to some unforeseen circumstance, I would accept it as something that was just meant to be. I tend to want to at this point of my life, live it day by day, week by week, experience by experience, enjoying what happens in the moment, as opposed to putting my expectations on being part of something that appears to be the “popular craze of the moment.”
Are there things that are a “FOMO” event, activity, or item that you would feel devastated, if you did not get to experience or possibly own? Do you have to have something in your life because it is the latest craze, or because everyone else has it? Each can choose to live their life their own way. But, as for me, yes, I will plan, yes, I will look toward taking care of the logistics of the things that I do so they have the best outcome possible, but to feel I am missing out on something if I am not meant to experience it, is just not a way I choose to live.
