Whether it’s a Snapchat story of one of our favorite influencers at a trendy lounge or a friend’s latest Instagram post of an adventure abroad, this constant exposure to things that are happening fuels our anxieties.
This desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing is a phenomenon known as FOMO: the fear of missing out. Here lies the threat that if we don’t participate in a certain activity, we will then miss out on some vital point of living.
Many of us have this erroneous belief that these plans will satisfy us, when in fact, FOMO is illusive.
Scrolling through happy status updates and scenic vacation shots often times leaves us with comparing our lives with those of our social media followers. The internet can show us all of the things we are not, what we have not accomplished and where we have not been.
Those social comparisons lead us to assume that these people MUST live more exciting lives than us. And those feelings of envy, ultimately, poses the question as to whether we will ever settle for what we have.
And this disturbs me in a way as I am absolutely guilty of this too.
Recently, my pastor touched on the subject.
He mentioned how our social anxieties and itch for inclusion, shifts our focus on looking outwards instead of inward.
If only we feared the void of a spiritual adventure vs one overseas…what if we were in as much of a pursuit of God as we are with our next adventure?
This question left me shook, as spirituality means something different to everyone: for some, it involves participating in organized religion and for others, it’s more personal.
But whatever it may mean to you, spirituality, includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves.
So I beg the question, what if we stopped seeking meaning and value through Instagram and it’s trendy photo opps and instead find purpose through our personal definition of spirituality.
Maybe if we practiced mindfulness and spiritual connectivity, will we then find that satisfaction that FOMO never quenches.
With an awakened sense of spirituality, we will never miss out.
Just some food for thought! -Xo
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