FOMO? It’s Pure Joy to Miss Out!

Do you struggle with FOMO – the fear of missing out?

FOMO shows up in your personal life when you miss out on social events, vacations, fashion trends, a sale, or Black Friday special. You crave to be in the know, to belong.

FOMO isn’t confined to your personal life. It shows up in your work life too! You struggle when you aren’t included in a meeting, miss out on a promotion, or are excluded from making a certain decision. You may feel it when you are overlooked for a project, not invited to an after work social gathering, or it may be what’s driving your efforts to participate in every networking opportunity that comes your way.

Own a business? FOMO shows up there too! It’s just too easy to compare the success of your business with other businesses by what you see in social media. Or feeling like you must create “that product” or jump on that bandwagon.

It’s exhausting!

The Origin of FOMO

More than twenty years ago, the term “FOMO” was birthed by a student at Harvard Business School named Patrick J. McGinnis. Having grown up in a small town in Maine, he was overwhelmed by the high pressure environment at Harvard and the myriad of opportunities available to him. He captured his thoughts in the satirical article “Social Theory at HBS: McGinnis’ Two FQ’s” that appeared in The Harbus in 2004 – – The Harvard Business School’s magazine.

The word FOMO was added to The Cambridge Dictionary in November of this year (2025), but the Oxford Dictionary was the very first to include the term FOMO back in 2013.  The Merriam Webster Dictionary officially added FOMO in April of 2016.

The Concept of FOMO Isn’t New!

Long before the term FOMO became a part of our vernacular, the same idea was expressed in the phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses.”  Maybe these days it’s keeping up with the Kardashians?

What Triggers FOMO?

Social media gets the brunt of the blame for FOMO, but the reality is that it’s what’s in your heart that allows FOMO to set in.

When you lack clarity around your vision, values, and the unique purpose God has for you, what others are up to in their lives and in their work can have a negative impact on you. Technology and social media certainly make it easier to see what others are up to which may trigger feelings of missing out or failing to keep up, however, you still have agency or the ability to influence your own thoughts and behavior. In other words, you get to choose how you will respond to the information you take in.

When you are trying to imitate what others are up to, you are settling for less of what God has in mind for you. God’s plan for you is exclusive to you. It’s creative, unexpected, and most likely outside of your comfort zone. It will require you to trust Him, it will stretch you, and that plan will be something you are only able to do with His help. And in the end, whatever that plan is, it will glorify Him.

What do you do when FOMO creeps up?

1. Recognize Where Your Focus Is

That FOMO feeling is a big tip off that you are focused on the wrong things. Rather than focusing on what everyone else is doing, turn your attention to what God is doing in your life and who He wants you to be. I know, easier said than done sometimes!

Remember that God has good things in mind for you! He longs for you to be completely surrendered and dependent on Him. Following Him rather than hoping He will follow you.

You may think that all the happy, good stuff is out there – what everyone else is doing, but you only see what others want you to see. You don’t know what’s really going on behind the happy pictures or all the sacrifice that took place for them to arrive where they are.

What I do know is that when I navigate what’s in front of me focused on and trusting God,it makes even the hard moments joy-filled moments. It truly shifts my perspective in the most delightful way.

Where you are in your journey is not the same place I am at, or anyone else for that matter. God doesn’t take us around hard challenging circumstances, He sees us through them. Sometimes that going “through” is a part of the prep for what He has ahead for you – just you!

2. Dwell On God’s Love for Me

One of the habits that helps me to keep my eyes on Him and what He has for me rather than what He has going on in the lives of others is regularly spending time in His presence and savoring His Word.

In my time with God, I’m also remind over and over again that no matter how horrific life gets, God is still in control, still able to help me, and that He still loves me. I need that kind of daily reminder because the twists and turns of life frequently tempt me to think otherwise.

It’s wildly comforting to me to know the depth of His love for me – He is the very source of love. And love is the remedy for fear.

There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love. I John 4:18 (MSG)

Like a loving good father, God wants the best for me. When I put my trust in Him, I experience His peace and security. Now that brings me joy!

3. Concentrate on the Good

FOMO is all about focusing on the one thing you can’t have while overlooking everything you do have. It’s rooted in scarcity – the idea that opportunities are limited. There’s not enough to go around, but God is a God of abundance!

Perhaps you are pursuing a specific opportunity right now. It feels like it’s the ONLY way to arrive where you desire to be. Yet God is able to work in all kinds of crazy situations – He’s proved that over and over again in countless lives throughout scripture and in my life too!  Remember Joseph, Esther, David, and so many more?

I’m certain He is at work in your life too! Trust that there is enough to go around. Embrace an abundance mindset.

4. Pursue His Purpose

Scripture tells us that God knit you together in your mother’s womb. The Message words it this way: “sculpted you from nothing to something.” (Psalms 139:15) He created you out of nothing for “something” – that’s pretty exciting! You won’t find that “something” on Facebook, Twitter, or imitating the lives of anyone else. Nope! He has something JUST for YOU!

Sometimes that’s a specific “to do,” but more often it’s a way of being that reflects Him. And as you operate out of that way of being, opportunities unfold that you would never have previously imagined.

5. Practice Committing

Sometimes fear of missing out is about hoping that something better will come along, which makes committing hard. The inability to commit results in issues both personally and professionally. For example, it’s tough to follow a wavering leader who struggles to cast a clear vision, strategy, or even a date for a meeting.

Take the plunge and just commit.  Practice missing out. Soon you will see that life goes on. And as you do commit, choose to intentionally see the blessings along the way.

6. Take Action!

You only have ONE life! It’s essential that you make the most of your time. How will you steward your time and energy well so that you are able to invest your energies in the activities that will truly make a difference?

What actions do you need to take? What new habits, routines, and perhaps some new ways of thinking will enable you to move forward on the path that God has for you?

7. Get Clear!

When you are clear on your vision, values, and purpose moving forward with confidence becomes easier. It’s not difficult to determine whether or not opportunities are right for you. And with clarity, there’s less FOMO. In fact, you’ll discover that it’s actually pure joy to miss out when you are doing what you are supposed to be doing!

Where has FOMO been creeping in for you?

Are you ready to leave FOMO behind? Let’s partner together!

© Can Stock Photo / stanciuc