Meet JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out (and Why You Should Practice It)

We’re all aware of FOMO – The Fear of Missing Out, the anxiety of missing out on something fun or interesting happening that we’re not around for. What if I told you that there was an entirely opposite experience to this phenomenon? Allow me to introduce JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out. If you can find JOMO, you are on your way to experiencing time in a much more meaningful and intentional way. Social media has made it all too easy to see what’s going on in the world. We see what our friends and family are doing all the time and we may be led to feel left out.

The addiction to social media makes it hard to avoid the fun that others are having. We may feel jealous or sad that we aren’t having the same good times as others.

There is social pressure to fit in and be accepted by our peers. We see joining in on fun experiences as an indication that we have been accepted, so missing out can be a painful experience. However, there is joy in the missing out.

The experience of JOMO is a sign of real emotional intelligence. It is the ability to be present and happy in the situation you are in, or where you are in life. When you experience JOMO, you are no longer comparing your life to the lives of others. This allows you to separate what you feel you should be doing to what you want to be doing. By finding this differentiation, you focus more on your needs and wishes than what you believe others think of you. By ceasing to seek the validation of others, we begin seeking personal fulfillment. Taking breaks from the big social media platforms immediately removes the pressure we feel from others. This gives you more time to focus on you and what you want to be doing. Instead of trying to follow the crowd, you can begin to let your individuality blossom. It can be difficult to do at first, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t manage a full day away at first. Take baby steps of an hour to two hours a day and build yourself up. Eventually, you will reach the point where the opinions of others don’t hold as much power as they used to. You don’t have to seek the approval of others by trying to help them. In fact, by learning to say ‘no’, you will free up time to pursue the projects that are truly important to you. Of course, you don’t always have to say no to helping others. In fact, the right requests can be very rewarding if you choose to help. What is important is that you don’t feel the need to say yes all the time. We get so caught up in social media and being on our phones in general that we barely look up. We tend to miss the little things happening all around us. Spend your free time outdoors or spending time with family. Make memories that maybe you don’t feel the need to capture on your phone. Make memories that you’d simply remember because those times were precious. You will not feel as though you are missing out if you take the time to make your own memories. Instead of wondering what other people are doing, concern yourself with what you are doing and why it’s important. Making time for yourself and those closest to you is the best way to bring JOMO into your life.

The more you practice it, the more you’ll find yourself forgetting about what everyone else is doing. Finding joy in missing out is the ultimate way to find peace and contentment in your everyday life. Removing the need to compete with others or work hard to gain their approval can be life-changing. Give yourself the freedom to pursue your own thoughts, ideas, and projects. By doing this, you will soon realize that missing out isn’t always the worst thing to happen and can, in fact, bring you joy and fulfilment. You will be more focused and thoughtful about your time, applying yourself to the things that truly matter. Don’t let seeking the approval of others decide what you do and what you worry about. Allow yourself the space to think for yourself and enjoy the things that are truly meaningful to you. JOMO really isn’t hard to find, it’s out there for us all. We simply have to realize that other people don’t tell us what we should be concerned about. This is something we have to find for ourselves. .

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References:

• https://www.learning-mind.com/fomo-vs-domo/
• https://www.learning-mind.com/social-media-psychology/
• https://www.learning-mind.com/dont-fit-in/
• https://www.learning-mind.com/high-emotional-intelligence/
• https://www.learning-mind.com/social-media-platforms-introverts/
• https://www.learning-mind.com/learn-to-say-no/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201807/jomo-the-joy-missing-out
• https://www.learning-mind.com/contact/