Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is real and I struggle with it too.
This is such an incredible force that it can either propel๐ an endeavor to the next level or crash๐ฅ your existing setup to its foundation.
I experienced FOMO when I was working in a top ITeS company. Like any new joinee in a very large organization, I was doing very menial tasks and hating it. The pay๐ฒ wasnโt helping either, so I started looking out.
I had been very influenced by the book ๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ and had grasped the central idea that โ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค. ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ.โ
Throughout my college and job, I was experiencing FOMO.
Considering my lack of business knowledge, I did a 2-year MBA and jumped straight into it.
The next 7-8 years were full of frustration, heartbreaks and real-life learnings. Even the close ones either couldnโt help or preferred to stay at a distance. I didnโt complain.
Finally, we sold the business for a small profit, and I moved back into a corporate career which I am enjoying, mostly ๐
I have seen FOMO in people from all gender, societal status even political inclination.
๐จ Ladies looking for that perfect partner who will sweep them off their feet and not let their feet touch the ground.
๐จ Guys cheating on their girlfriends or wives to experience the โwhateverโ that they were missing.
๐จ Marketers trying every new social media channel on the block like Threads.
๐จ Successful businessman pining for the ultimate nirvana glory.
๐จ Cab drivers wanting to diversify into highly risky property deals.
I, myself, experienced FOMO again and tried to switch from a perfectly reasonable job and see if I could do better.
So, the question is if it is GOOD๐ or BAD๐?
I donโt have an answer like I donโt have an answer to most philosophical questions.
FOMO also lets you dream better for yourself and your near and dear ones. It spurs you into action and takes you out of your comfort zone. In some cases, it might help you get out of a toxic relationship or workplace.
As a society, we have been trained to be content and satisfied with what we have. We have been brainwashed to seek security and stability.
But things are changing.
The world is your oyster now and the media has led us to believe things like โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐โ, โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ and from 90โs Pepsi campaign โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ.
Do you think FOMO is real? Comment below and share your thoughts.
