How Contentment In Our Current Season Helps Us Escape the Trap of FOMO
Chuckling, I watched as my three-month old granddaughter fought her much-needed nap. Just as her eyes started to close, she shook herself and erupted in an angry cry. With clenched fists, she glared at me as I continued to rock her.
She must be afraid of missing out on something.
I’m not sure if babies can suffer from the social anxiety referred to as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). But her struggle against sleep reminds me of my own struggles when I fear I will miss out on something fun, important, or profitable.
I know I’m not alone in this. Although FOMO has been around for centuries, it has gained greater recognition in recent years. Studies indicate occurrences of FOMO continue to rise, in large part due to the influence of social media in our culture.
Social media allows us to share good news, achievements, and fun times with each other. But if I’m not careful, this can lead me to feeling left out or left behind. I can fall into the trap of believing everyone else is living their best life while mine is… just so ordinary.
When this happens, I need to remember the wise words nestled in the book of Ecclesiastes:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)
Every life has seasons of joy, achievement, sorrow, and loss. Over the years, God has faithfully led me through many of these. In each season He gave me exactly what I needed to grow closer to Him. Remembering this helps me as I look at social media posts. It would be unfair for me to compare my season of rest with another’s season of achievement. Or my season of loss with my friend’s season of joy. When I rest secure in God’s plan for my current season, I no longer compare my life with others. Only then can I freely share my friends’ joys and sorrows. (Romans 12:15)
Contentment in our current season breeds serenity. After rocking my granddaughter for a few more minutes, she drifted off into the sleep she needed, but vehemently resisted. Smiling at her peaceful face, I laid her down. Her time to nap is my time to work.
As I continue down the road, I pray to find contentment in my current season of life. Wherever the road leads you, I pray you can do the same.
Thank you for this timely reminder! I think FOMO loops in my subconscious daily, and I need to replace it with Scripture.
Thank you Marlene! FOMO can easily trap us. Amen to using Scripture to combat it. ????
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Shirley. I’ve recently been thinking a lot about our younger generations’ addiction to social media. Although there are significant benefits, such as staying connected with family members, and reconnecting with old friends you haven’t seen in years, there are equally significant dangers, physically and psychologically. Teen girls meeting strangers online and then in person with dire consequences. There’s also a superficiality about social media that doesn’t tell the whole story, and as you say, we compare ourselves to those who appear to be leading more glamorous lives, and we come up short. There’s no greater misery than wishing you were leading a different life than the one you’re currently living! I agree there’s a FOMO, a fear of being ordinary behind it.
Thanks Maya. I share your concern regarding social media. I am grateful for how it has allowed me to reconnect with people I’ve known over the years. But this blessing comes with unexpected struggles. Maybe awareness of its challenges can help all of us navigate the social media scene with more discernment. I’m so glad you shared your thoughts! ????