Fear. Of. Missing. Out.
It’s so seductive in terms of how it “gets us.”
This is when we know it’s in our best interest not to do something – yet we worry that if we don’t, we’ll miss out on something. Something critical.
So we end up in a place of inner turmoil. Should we or shouldn’t we?
Let’s take last weekend for me.
It happened to be the date of a wonderful Joint Venture Retreat that I attend yearly with my favorite colleagues. We share intimately about what is working and not working in our businesses, latest trends in the self-improvement industry, new ideas on how to serve our clients more exceptionally… And we also do a crazy talent show and ridiculously fun poker night.
Suffice it to say that it’s not only extremely valuable, it’s a hoot.
But this year, there was something else high-priority going on in my life that needed attention, and thus it was in my best interest to not attend the retreat this time.
Yes, for the first time in five years I would be choosing to miss it.
Though initially, I went to the place of FOMO. What if some great new strategy for reaching more people were to be revealed that I would miss? What if my ideal collaborative partner was there but they partnered with someone else? What if… What if… What if?
Thank GOODNESS I caught myself pretty quickly. Because all of those thoughts are, of course, scarcity-based! This idea that because I wouldn’t be there, I’d somehow suffer some horrible, irrevocable consequences.
Bullshit. If there is a strategy I need to learn, or people I need to meet, or an opportunity that is for my highest good, God/Spirit/The Divine will see to it that I do so some way or another!
The only answer is trust. The only answer is letting go. The only answer is choosing not to succumb to the fear that we will miss out on something critical and be forever hindered if we don’t do something, choose something, go somewhere, get picked for something, make a certain decision, etc., etc., etc.
Yes, trust is a choice. Just as the “fear of missing out” is a choice.
I encourage us all to believe in a world where our needs will be abundantly met – I’ve found that choosing to believe this is directly related to why I’ve continued to experience it.
P.S. Case in point. My client Sandra stayed home from a Jewish Singles thing even though she was afraid the “perfect guy” would be there whom she wouldn’t meet. Months later she met Steve through a work contact, and is now in a great relationship.
Guess what – turns out Steve was at that very Jewish Singles event that past summer that she didn’t attend!
A perfect example of God / Spirit / The Divine seeing to it that if she was “meant” to meet someone, she would.