Have you ever seen a boatload of adorable children smiling brightly and thought "Why don't I have kids like that?"
Have you ever seen kissy photos of ridiculously happy couples and thought "Why don't I have a relationship like that?"
Have you ever caught images of your friends or family out documenting climbing mountains, surfing, skydiving, etc and thought "Why don't I get out and do things like that?"
Yeah you have.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and so many more forms of social media have many (okay most) of us suffering from this newly diagnosed problem called FOMO. FOMO is the "Fear of Missing Out" or it is also described as anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website. This fear grows as we scroll through each photo, status and see all the likes piling up on someone else's exciting life that we aren't living.
It's easy to fall into this trap of comparing and longing to participate in these experiences that are happening to others. They can be events like weddings or births to even the smallest event of two people getting together for coffee. For some reason if we're not included or not doing something like that, we suddenly feel like we are missing out. We missed out on an opportunity. "Why the hell aren't I tagged in this post?"
You know what I mean.
This post is to give you some tips on how to help diminish this anxiety that is now so common. The last thing we need these days is more to feel anxious about. Right?
Is that really what you want to be doing right now?
When you see these images and posts, ask yourself this question. I say this because sometimes I see a crew at the lake or a beach. I immediately think "Why aren't I outside? It's such a beautiful day." I'm comfortably snuggled up on my couch in my air conditioning with my son watching him try to identify his letters. We are laughing and learning and he is so happy in this moment. Why am I looking at my phone to see what everyone else is doing? Is there REALLY anywhere else I'd rather be right now than in this moment watching him squeal with delight when he gets the letter "B" right and shouts, "Mama, a B!"? No way. I put my phone down and return to this precious moment.
Stop comparing
There is a reason you hear this often. You are unlike any other. Comparing yourself to others is a complete waste of time and waste of what makes you YOU. Your life is precious and you are to live a life that is meaningful to you. Just because others are getting tattoos, cliff diving, and traveling to Europe, doesn't necessarily mean that you should be doing that too. Everyone has their own passion, their own agenda, and their own path. Don't insert yourself into anyone else's dreams. Create your own based on what really matters to you, which leads me to...
Spend time on what you value
This is the most important tip of all. Take out a piece of paper right now. Write down the 3 things you value most in this life. What are three focuses in your life that you value most and want to spend your time on. What do you see? People? Material items? Experiences? People spend so much time doing things they don't want to be doing because they THINK that is what they are supposed to be doing...because someone else said so or is doing so. But what about YOU? What do YOU value? Each day are you doing things that align with what you value? If not, it might be time to stop focusing on what everyone else is doing and get to work on your own journey.
Be grateful
I can't write a post without always adding this thought into your mind. Be grateful. Be so gracious for all that you have. You have so much more than billions of others in this world. Don't take any of it for granted. Do you have a roof over your head? A safe home? Food to eat? A place to go everyday? (School, work, nature, anywhere?) Focus on all you have. It's a lot.
Hope this serves you today in this moment.
Kate
