FOMO vs JOMO
Today, I came with a unique topic, on which a very small amount of people are talking. Pondering over points written in these articles can really change the way of your thinking and can direct your life. So, let’s start. What is the meaning of this title FOMO vs JOMO?
FOMO: Fear of Missing out
JOMO: Joy of Missing out
→ FOMO (Fear of Missing out)
FOMO is a real psychological disorder that is increasing in humans of every age. We’re getting involved in it day by day.
It is a feeling or perception that others are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are.
It is also not just about others' life, it is also that thing if you’re doing something then you’re missing something in realizing that someone else is experiencing that moment better than you.
Which is the major factor?
It has a direct link to social media. Social media increases it in several ways because we’re comparing ourselves with highlights of others' lives of persons.
This disorder is increasing exponentially in the youth of this digital era. People post their best pictures (after choosing from 10 taken photos and editing it xD), showing their daily life highlights where they are traveling, going, eating, enjoying, and what they are doing at the right moment, etc. People are bragging about themselves all the time. But In reality, They have a normal or saddest life, but on social media, they present themselves as the happiest person in this world. It’s Duniya bruh, not Disneyland😂 Nobody’s life is perfect. Everyone has their own problems, interior wars in their heart, and weaknesses.
→ Snapchat dysmphoria
Do you know Snapchat dysmphoria disorder? Just search it and check out how it is growing exponentially. Basically, it is a disorder of becoming flawless and perfect in pictures, through using filters of Snapchat. This creates a lot of mental problems in people. And because of this, people are under severe attack of this disorder, without knowing it. (BTW this is beyond the scope of my topic, search it on your own)
What is happening?
After seeing these all flawless stuff on social media, we feel something missing in ourselves. This thing controls our life. We’re doing those things which we don’t wanna do in actuality. And we are not doing the things that we want to do in reality. We always try to be as cool as we can, even after our hearts do not accept it. It causes a lot of stress, anxiety and has a direct effect on our self-esteem. Desires of likes, comments, and hearts of FB, Insta, and YT, etc are creating big chaos in our mental psychology, which shapes our behaviors, moral and ethical values in such a way that we even can’t imagine it.
→ JOMO (Joy of missing out)
JOMO (Joy of missing out) is an alternative to FOMO which means:
Enjoying what you’re doing in each moment without worrying about what everyone else is doing.
It is a response to the fear of being out of the loop or fear of not being the coolest one person.
Internally, we want to be on track with JOMO. But we don’t know how? We’re fulfilling the standards of society. We want to fit in the coolest circle of society and wanna be in the same rat race with others. But what is the result? The result is that it is a rat race, in which the winner is still a rat, not a lion or horse. Try to feel it. Enjoy your own Life, instead of checking likes, comments on your photos, instead of posting random blah blah stuff just for showing that I’m active too, instead of comparing your life with others, instead of showing people all the time that what are you doing, where are you going, what are you eating, etc.
But How?
→ Find Purpose
Without having a purpose is like a horse who is in a race, but in which direction? what is the endpoint of wining point? He doesn’t know it. So, without having a direction that horse can be at one track/road at one time, and on another on the second time. Without having a broader vision and purpose, he can’t manage himself.
This is just an example to elaborate on the meaning of purpose. If everything on this hearth from sky & sun to earth and its species has a purpose then why don’t we have? Who is the most superior creation of Allah?
So, Our one purpose is crystal clear which is:
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed (Surah Al-Mulk: 2)
And also
Then, whoever is spared the Fire and is admitted to Paradise has indeed been successful. (Surah Al-Imran: 185)
This is our religious purpose for ourselves, for sake of Allah Almighty.
And besides that purpose, we have a worldly purpose, like achieving a high status for giving smooth and a better life to your parents, for doing better things for society and your own home (wife & child), doing work for creating sadqa-e-jaria for the hereafter, etc.
Ponder over your purpose, it will pull you from the cage of social media addiction and FOMO disorder.
→ Self Awareness
Stop looking yourself through the ways of people's eyes. You’re unique and have your own exceptional abilities. Try to build self-esteem and have awareness of yourself. This is such a topic on which I can write a lot of content. But in another article In sha Allah.
You can watch these videos for improving your self-esteem and for self-awareness
→ Give Permission
We want to change ourselves but we’re helpless. We’re trapped in an invisible cage. We want to read books, listening podcasts, improve ourselves spiritually. But how? Simple Answer: Give Permission
We need to give permission to ourselves to listen to podcasts over scrolling uselessly all day. We need to give permission to ourselves to read a book instead of wasting time on social media. We need to give permission to invest time in our learning. We need to give permission to read the Qur’an instead of wandering on roads without a purpose. So, Give yourself permission and Try to enjoy your loneliness too without using social media and without considering people's life.
→ Focus on gratitude
If you will try to compare yourself with others, you will end up in sadness, grief, and sorrow. Whether it is comparing marks in your education or comparing materialistic things (the beauty of faces, phones, clothes). Try to have a feeling of gratitude for whatever you have. What you don't have is for your betterment. Allah says
So, try to adopt the quality of gratitude. It will help you to reduce the effects of FOMO.
So, That’s all from my side. Jazak Allah for reading! May Allah accept our efforts and make this article to change personalities. For giving an indirect message you can share this article with your friends too, who are involved in such things. Saving our close ones from digital Fitnahs is our duty too. Be a part of sadqa-e-jaria.
Signing off until the next article, Allah Hafiz!
