We’ve all experienced it: the deep shivers that radiate from a place within our subconscious mind. It feels like a sense of lack or an overall mood of unsettledness that makes you feel like you’re living an awful life.
These moments can jolt and rattle you away from your path because you feel as if you must experience something “or else.” But you can make the mental and physical switch to help you find joy in embracing your true path.
Release the grip that FOMO, the fear of missing out, has on your mind and daily life. If you align with what nourishes you on a deeper soul level, you'll appreciate the circle of life. You’ll feel empowered to find peace and joy in saying no to things.
This is a mindful practice of listening to intuition and knowing when to say yes or no. Feeling empowered to do more of what you want will help you pinpoint your own definition of success.
Society has placed intense expectations on us, pushing productivity, entrepreneurship, and competition from every angle. Trying to meet these expectations can snowball into a sense that nothing we do is “enough.” It seems like a never-ending cycle of one-upping ourselves, which can become emotionally and physically exhausting.
Become mindful to embrace our journey.
Within the teachings of mindfulness and Buddhism, we learn that happiness and santosha (contentment) come from inside us. No outside material item, person, or experience can fulfill a task as grand as our happiness. When there is a bone-deep need to feel comforted, it can signal that we’re ignoring our inner desires and interests.
Having attachments is a common human experience, and it’s easy to get lost in the past and the (even more daunting) future. Comparing ourselves to others and expecting certain outcomes are both the thieves of joy. It is, however, very possible to become more conscious and self-aware, and thereby increase awareness of these grievous seeds of FOMO.
Through this increasing awareness, we can also find joy in the things we are passionate about. JOMO is what happens when we align with what brings us true happiness. Think of it as getting “back to basics.”
Find more gratitude.
Our fear of missing out comes from a lack of gratitude, and it shows up when we seek out experiences, people, or emotions to fill a void. To wash away any lingering FOMO, we should add healthy doses of gratitude:
- Tune in
- Become more self-aware of what is around us
- Consciously choose who we’re with
- Begin to move out of the “what if” state
- Move toward a higher state of bliss
A “lack” mindset will disappear as we step into our inner power. Joy enters quite effortlessly as we shift away from what we feel we’re missing and into gratitude for the amazingness of our life. Ask yourself: “Who am I thankful to have in my life?” and “Which recent opportunities and experiences have brought me joy and happiness?”
Use our sacred alone time well.
Embracing and cultivating alone time is one of the main keys to finding JOMO. If we feel fulfilled when we are alone, we do not need to seek fulfillment and validation from other
people or outside experiences.
Start a gratitude journal. Write out a list of things going well, and include little moments throughout the day that sparked a feeling of happiness, like a random conversation, finding a sunny spot at the park, or the simple joy of enjoying a walk with a cup of coffee. Gratitude is the best way to reach a life of abundance, bliss, and inner peace.
Flex your trust muscle.
Come back to one of the core teachings of mindfulness and meditation: trust and surrender. Through trust and sacrifice, we align with the right opportunities, jobs, contacts, and connections. This leads us to reach a “flow state” in our lives, which is an effortless state and unquestionable sign that we are on our true path.
Get outside!
Many studies have shown that getting outdoors is a way to enhance emotional stability and creativity. Dr. Rhonda Patrick is an American biochemist who has done extensive research on aging, cancer, and nutrition. She famously speaks about the use of sun activity, breathing, and saunas as natural therapies to heal or offset depression and anxiety.
Fear is an emotion that has been correlated with experiencing depression, so get outside! Forget the bustle of city life and make time to breathe fresh air. Even a 15-minute walk added to your daily life can help the body release stress, emotionally and physically.
Establish meditation and movement practice.
There are various forms and methods of meditation which can be gleaned from any book on meditation. One common form of meditation is simply sitting on a pillow, closing our eyes, and watching our breathing. There are other ways to get the mind, body, and spirit into that flow state.
Any active movement, like walking or jogging, can be a true catalyst to guide the mind toward inner happiness and inspiration. The benefits of exercise extend to all aspects of life. Gentle yoga teaches us that the solar plexus chakra is the powerhouse of our inner creativity. Epiphanies and creative ideas or “downloads” can hit the mind effortlessly when you incorporate movement and breath practice in a daily routine. Move your body with yoga and see how this practice can also drastically improve your mind.
Be honest; be a little selfish.
Say yes to the experiences that wholeheartedly resonate and no to the things that seem like bad times. This bit of self-care will help us strengthen our universal trust muscles. If a friend leaves us feeling like we’re “missing out,” take it as a sign that it’s time to make more meaningful relationships that make us feel included and in alignment.
The universe doesn’t know what FOMO is—today’s society led us to create this feeling. We must trust that the universe is going to send us whatever is meant for us, and feeling like we’re missing out is just the ego latching onto something out of our control, leaving us in fear and anxiety. Don’t let anyone else tell you your definition of success.
Connecting to your inner power and finding contentment within yourself at this moment will be the catalyst for pure fulfillment and, therein, the joy of missing out.