FOMO: Don’t Fear It

Everything you want is on the other side of fear.

FOMO: The fear of missing out. This emotion, or rather state of mind, is often portrayed as a more negative mindset to possess. We mostly relate it to recklessness.

Throughout life however, it’s FOMO (which we’ve all experienced) that pushes us into unusual situations with unexpected, often amazing outcomes. Taking a swing on that job, buying that one-way-ticket, learning that new language.

FOMO can be a healthy thing. It pushes us beyond our fears, because the fear of missing out is often greater than the fear of the experience itself. 

As human beings, it’s in our nature to be scared of change. Stepping out of your comfort zone is, well, uncomfortable, and it’s FOMO that you hear in your subconscious, whispering “come on, you’ll regret it. You could be missing out on a potentially incredible experience”.

Just think of everything you could be missing out on.

I can pinpoint many moments in my life where giving into my FOMO turned out to be a life changer. In high school, I nearly backed out of going on exchange to Japan due to finances. That trip led to the creation of my YouTube channel in which I create travel content. 

Recently, I moved to Egypt alone. Leading up to the day I left Australia, there remained countless doubts that could have easily resulted in cancelling the move. Yet I threw myself in the deep end, because I feared missing out on such a great opportunity.

And I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who feels the FOMO. 

My previous job had me talking to dozens and dozens of people every day, from all walks of life and of all ages.

You learn so much from other people and if anything stood out to me the most, it was the older people who spoke about their biggest regret; projects they had never started, opportunities they said no to and places they never visited.

They talked themselves out of every available opportunity, but those who told me about their greatest experiences? It was through ignoring their fears that they created the greatest chapters of their lives.

Moral of the story?

Give in to your FOMO.

In the past, whenever somebody asked me why I’ve made so many seemingly ‘crazy’ decisions in my life, I didn’t know what to say. How I could explain it? What could justify my rogue decisions?

But now I know what to say.

To simply put it: my FOMO got the best of me. And it made the best version of me.

What do you have to thank FOMO for? ❤️