Vacations… and FOMO Syndrome

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n the world we live in, full of constant stimuli, created needs, and fabricated interests, we often convince ourselves that we’re missing out on something every single day instead of feeling deeply grateful for all that we have. Are you familiar with FOMO syndrome?

FOMO stands for the English phrase "fear of missing out." It’s the anxiety of feeling like you’re missing out on something. We’re surrounded by the “perfect lives” of others on social media, gossip magazines, and television shows. Many times, we find ourselves wishing we could live like so-and-so, own the house of so-and-so, or vacation on the idyllic island where so-and-so is. It’s normal; we’ve all felt this way at some point, and we probably will again. The problem arises when we’re so influenced by what we see that we unconsciously convince ourselves we’re missing out on something. When this happens, we start to feel that our life isn’t as good as we once thought.

This feeling tends to intensify in the summer, when we have more time to scroll through social media, read celebrity news, and follow the lives of friends, coworkers, and acquaintances.

FOMO syndrome is becoming increasingly common among younger people, who are more connected to social media and celebrities selling us their fabricated realities. Has this always been a thing? Yes, but now it’s just a click away. And we’re not just seeing how much fun celebrities are having—we’re constantly exposed to how great (or seemingly great) everyone else is doing. This can sometimes spark insecurity, envy, and dissatisfaction with our own lives, bodies, homes, cars, and even partners.

We don’t realize the unconscious damage caused by constantly absorbing visual blows of what we don’t have. Confidence, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction levels are lower than ever.

Let’s consider an example: Claudia is working through a coaching process with the goal of realigning her life. She shares that she feels lost, doesn’t know what she wants, and feels demotivated both at home and work. After several sessions, Claudia realizes that she always wanted to be a pediatrician—and she is a pediatrician! She’s passionate about caring for others, helping children, and contributing to social work, and she’s happy with her salary. “If I had to choose a career again, I’d still be a pediatrician,” she says with a beaming smile. So, what’s going on with Claudia?

After reflecting, Claudia realizes she’s become increasingly isolated, with little social life, and admits she’s more hooked on social media than ever before. She loves fashion and follows many models and celebrities with seemingly perfect bodies and lives. Claudia says she feels overweight and unattractive. If you saw Claudia, you’d say, “She could be a model herself!”

Be cautious of those internal dialogues we slowly internalize: “I’ll never look like that,” “Compared to that, my house is a shack,” “How lucky X is to be in Japan while I’m stuck at home with the kids”… One thought leads to another until a cloud of negativity truly makes you see things in a dark light. Without realizing it, you start feeling dissatisfied with your life because you believe you’re missing out.

Reconnect with what you have and with the people around you, with everything you enjoy—both material and immaterial. Pay attention to your internal dialogue and thoughts, and stop comparing your life to others’.

Remember: where you place your energy, growth follows. If you focus on lack, more lack will come. Connect with what you have and what makes you happy. The best tool to achieve this is gratitude.

Image by Freepik

Melinda Sánchez Coach

www.melindasanchezcoach.com