FOMO, No No! Here Are 3 Ways to Live a Full Life

“Such a FOMO kid, a new ice cream shop just opened and you rushed right over!” “You’re so FOMO, you have to try everything?”

Have you ever heard of FOMO? If you spend a lot of time on the internet, this word is bound to come up once or twice. FOMO means fear of missing out, being afraid of missing something trendy. There is a desire to follow the latest, otherwise life feels incomplete.

How can people be like that?

Why People Can Feel FOMO

At first glance, FOMO feels funny, even normal. Haven’t tried the newest coffee yet? Or never gone on a vacation to Japan? Still haven’t been to the store that is going viral? Surely there is a feeling that we really are missing out. We have to try it, then we will be happy.

But there is a deeper cause.

The feeling of FOMO is triggered by the amygdala gland in the brain, which determines what is a threat or not a threat to us. When the brain feels that something important has been missed, the amygdala treats it as a threat, triggering a feeling of stress.

For example, there is a new cafe that has gone viral. Many of your friends have already gone there, except you. Of course you feel anxious, right? That is because of your brain’s perception. Because you missed something, you feel threatened.

It is easy to avoid FOMO when you do not know. But with how easily information spreads, how can you avoid it? Almost every day there is always someone who seems to have or experience more than you. And of course they look so happy.

The Danger of FOMO - Satisfaction That Never Arrives

In reality, that is not how it is. 

FOMO is a problem of perception. As soon as one desire is fulfilled, you will quickly want something else again. It is like drinking seawater: for a moment you are satisfied, but soon you will be thirsty again.

That is how FOMO can trigger envy or excessive craving (coveting), and we know that both are sin (Exodus 20:17). In fact, even having what you want does not guarantee that you will be happy. For example, after going on vacation to Bali, now you want to vacation in Vietnam. After watching this concert, you want to watch another one instead. 

The Lord Jesus already said in Luke 12:15, “for even when someone has an abundance of possessions, his life does not depend on his wealth.” It is not what you have (or experience) that makes you full. So overcoming FOMO is not about constantly getting what you want.

3 Steps to Finding Fullness

Filling life with material things or experiences alone, in the end, will not last long. 

So, how can we feel fullness? What should we do when FOMO comes?

1. Listen to the Lord (and Turn to Him)

Fullness in life comes from God alone. As it says in John 4:13, 

Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever.” 

At that time the Lord Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman. Jesus knew that this woman’s soul was ‘thirsty’: she had been married and divorced many times, and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Therefore, Jesus used water as a picture of that woman’s condition. 

If she drank water (sought worldly things) to satisfy herself, she would remain thirsty. But when she drank living water (worshiped and drew near to God), only then would she be satisfied. In the end, the Samaritan woman believed in Jesus - she listened to Jesus.

Today, whose voice do we hear? The world’s, which continually stirs up our desires and passions? Or God’s, who promises fullness and satisfaction? When you feel afraid of missing this trend or that one, perhaps you need to turn off the voices of the world and turn to God.

Read His word. Reflect on His promises. Let God’s word enter your heart, and feel the fullness He gives.

2. Control Your Desires

Do you believe that fullness in life comes from contentment?

FOMO makes us want and keep wanting. It is as if having enough always comes with conditions, and it will not be enough until the thing is there. In fact, all of this is only an illusion.

So what is the solution? Control your desires. Not everything has to be bought, not everything has to be owned. Hebrews 13:5 says, 

Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. For God has said: ”I will never leave you and I will never forsake you.”

Nowadays, the verse above feels unreasonable. It is so easy for us to see what other people have, and we want to have it too. In fact, we think that the thing we want will make us happy.

In reality, the Bible clearly says that it is far better when we are content with what we have. Indeed, if God adds to what we have, we are grateful and happy, but that sense of enough must stay attached to our hearts. 

Which are we? Do we want to feel content, or let expectations and desires rule us?

3. Give More

Giving, not receiving, actually makes us happier.

Sounds strange, doesn’t it? When we give, our possessions decrease. We do not get anything back. It seems like there is more loss in giving than in receiving. 

But Paul says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In reality, when we decide to give, we really do feel happier. One study found that giving stimulates the hormones dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, which make us feel more ‘happy.’

Also, by giving we stop thinking about ourselves. It is no longer about profit and loss, no longer about what we get. We think about other people’s joy, and that is exactly what makes us happy.

Paul even says again in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God “loves a person who gives cheerfully.” Amazing, isn’t it?

Breaking Free from the Trap of Desire

That does not mean we may not pursue our desires. If we are able and it is truly good, that is fine. However, what we need to avoid is thinking that fulfilling our desires will bring satisfaction. 

To put FOMO to death, we need to seek the living water that can satisfy the thirst of our souls. Come to God, pursue His will, then make a habit of giving. That way, we too can break free from the trap of passion and desire.

Source: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/FOMO-fear-of-missing-out

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you

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