JOMO, The Joy of Missing Out
JOMO, or the joy of missing out, it’s about being happy about not experiencing something you think you should experience. It’s a little bit confusing, but in this article, we’ll talk about what’s JOMO all about and how you can experience it.
What’s JOMO?
JOMO literally means the joy of missing out and it’s a counterpart to FOMO or the fear of missing out. As weird as it might be, many people feel happy about missing out on something they once thought they should experience.
Why do people identify with this? Well, sometimes thinking about what think you’re missing out can be harmful.
In a world as globalized as ours, there’s always something better than what you already have. With the click of a mouse, through social media, you can find people who might be doing better than yourself. This is why some people spend time wanting something better instead of enjoying their present time.
Thus, JOMO was born. Its creators say that, yes, there’s probably something better out there, however, all of your current experiences can be enjoyable. This thought is influenced by mindfulness meditation and acceptance and commitment therapy.
This way, if you’re happily missing out on something, it’ll be easier for you to live in the now. Just by this way of thought, something as simple as hanging out with your friends, or reading a book, can be as pleasurable as the next adventure.
How to develop JOMO mentality
Learning to say no with joy can improve your mood. How can you learn to do this? Read on.
1. Accept your reality
The first thing you should do is accept that you can’t be in two places at once. There are so many places to visit, meals to have, and things to do. If you try to do all of it, you’ll get frustrated and sad.
Accept your reality just as it is. Develop your stoicism. Accept that whatever you’re going through is a very useful way of thinking.
2. Find out what’s important to you
Once you understand that you don’t have to experience it all, the next step will be to find out what you really want to do. Try making a list of goals and interests. What’s important to you? What’s the first thing you’d cross out of the list?
Remember, this is a personal matter. It’s not about what other people want. If you really want to develop JOMO mentality, you’ll have to be truthful and look inside yourself.
3. Learn how to say no
The last step to enjoy missing out is simple, yet it might be the hardest. It’s about having the confidence of saying no when you don’t really want to go to that party, or simply because you have other commitments and can’t go.
There’s this fear of what others will think, or being ashamed, or lacking trust in yourself, and it can get you tangled in situations you won’t like. Just getting rid of this behavior will help you focus on what’s really important.
Once you understand what you really like, it’ll be easier saying no to the rest. However, sometimes you’ll have to test your ability to set boundaries. Luckily, there are many resources that can help your assertiveness.
Developing JOMO mentality can be the best thing you’ll ever do. The tips in this article will help you start, but remember there are hundreds of ways to learn to enjoy what you already have. You only need to find what works for you the best.