Beyond FOMO: Cultivating Self-Discovery in the Age of Social Media
Maybe replacing it with FOMS could be a good idea…
Beyond FOMO: Cultivating Self-Discovery in the Age of Social Media — Image by Author.
Come on, we all know we live in a world of like and notification addiction! There’s no more joy in having an experience if you don’t post it online immediately, right? Otherwise what’s the point…it’s like it never happened!
FOMO
By now psychologists have even coined a term for this social pathology: FOMO, the acronym for “Fear Of Missing Out”. The fear of missing out on something while others are hugely enjoying themselves.
Ok ok we admit, it’s an easy trap to fall into these days. But if FOMO makes us unhappy, wouldn’t it be better to try and free ourselves of it?
FOMS
Maybe replacing it with curiosity about ourselves and the beauty of our inner world? Ancient spiritual teachers would probably call it FOMS: Foreboding Of Missing The Self!
Perhaps it sounds too Zen… but trust me, dedicating time to inner quiet benefits any age! Let’s look at some practical suggestions for you 15, 30 and 50-year-olds afflicted by FOMO…
Let’s start with the teenagers…I understand that at 15 you have raging hormones and want to enjoy life to the fullest. But remember, it’s not all about likes & followers!
Personal diary
Get into the habit of keeping a personal diary where you write your deepest dreams and reflections without filters. You’ll discover unknown sides of yourselves!
And learn to unplug from time to time from chats and social media: read a good book, do sports, enjoy a sunset…and a whole new perspective will open up!
Moving on to thirty-somethings…yes, I know that in your 30s you’re super busy with your career, commitments and all those too-good-to-miss FOMO opportunities! But stop, breathe… rediscover the art of slowness.
Cultivate interests outside of work that bring a zest for life: painting, volunteering at the dog shelter, and even growing potted plants on your balcony!
Energy
And learn when to say no: we cannot always be top performers burdened by other people’s expectations. Let’s devote energy to what truly matters for us!
Finally, some advice for you 50-plusers…Beware, the risk at that age is to live lost in memories or regrets, instead of reveling in the present moment!
Nurture curiosity about today: enjoy time with your grandkids, discover new music, learn that computer course you’ve been putting off for years…
Curiosity
Honestly embrace FOMS: Foreboding Of Missing The Self! and cultivate what in Indian Vedanta philosophy is called Jigyasu Bhava.
Jigyasu Bhava is a strong desire to understand who we are and how the world works. It is a curiosity that pushes us to look inside ourselves and learn new things. It helps us grow spiritually, discovering the beauty that is within each of us.
Turn off your phone and gaze inward fearlessly: this is the royal road to uncover new horizons.
Comfort zone
Here’s advice for everyone: Step out of your comfort zone! Get together groups of people who do different activities than usual: museum visits, nature walks, bike tours of small towns, river rafting, social volunteering…
Through reflection and meditation, let’s discover who we are behind our social masks. Thus we’ll remain firmly anchored in the present moment, deriving sustenance even from little everyday joys!
So go ahead, put down that smartphone! Life’s beauty is inside and around us, it just takes seeing it.
Well folks, what’ll it be: endlessly compulsively scrolling other people’s feeds? Or discovering the richness within ourselves?
It’s your choice: FOMO or FOMS?
I suggest reading “The Fall of the Human Intellect” by A. Parthasarathy.
I think you’re going to love this book!
“The Fall of the Human Intellect” by A. Parthasarathy.
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