Overcoming FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

"I might need it later."

"What if I miss out on something important?"

"But this is really good stuff."

These are all excuses we use to justify a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Whether it's an unread book you've kept for three years or an unworn sweater you bought a year ago, your reason for holding onto these items could be a fear of missing out. However, we cannot keep every item that comes into our homes just because we are worried we might miss out on an opportunity to use it. There comes a point when we have to stop letting a fear of missing out control our lives and push past our innate desire to latch onto the things we "might need" or "might be able to use" in the future. Below are three things to keep in mind when trying to overcome FOMO.

3 things to remember when trying to overcome FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

#1 - You can't fully use/experience everything that comes into your life.

As the old adage conveys, "Life is short." In the Bible, the book of James says, "...For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14, KJV) There simply aren't enough hours in a day, days in a year, or years in a lifetime to fully absorb and appreciate every physical item that comes into our possession. in my opinion, quality is usually better than quantity. I prefer to spend my time fully experiencing a few important items, rather than trying to absorb more information or experiences that aren't really special to me.

If the book you bought 10 years ago is sitting unopened on a dusty shelf, let it go. If you have a party dress you never wear, let it go. Let go of hobbies or items your "ideal self" would use. Just because others enjoy scrapbooking or knitting doesn't mean you have to. If you don't have time to complete a project in the near future, pass it on to someone who will be delighted with the opportunity to complete it. Don't keep something just because you are afraid of missing out on it. Chances are you can probably acquire it again if you decide you have the desire/time/energy to fully appreciate the item sometime in the future.

#2 - Managing too many items often causes you to miss out on truly important things.

How many times have you decided not to host an event in your home because of the clutter? Do you feel like it's too much trouble to shift stuff around your home in order to make room for a few guests to come over? Are you constantly trying to find a place to put your things that don't have a home? These are very common experiences. We are so blessed with "stuff", but almost to a fault. When we have too many items to manage, our homes become more like a storage unit than an actual place to live. We are constantly moving things around to try to create the space we need to live our lives.

Do your children ask you to play with them, but you're always too busy putting away

clutter? Do you want to invite your friends or family members over to visit, but the mess in your home is too overwhelming to tackle? Do you wish you had more time to spend on your hobbies or self-care, but you can't even begin to relax due to the extensive mess of your living space? The fear of missing out on these physical items is not worth what it is costing you to keep them. It is not worth the anxiety, stress, embarrassment, energy, and time it is costing you to keep these things. I think we need to be much more afraid of missing out on our relationships and favorite activities than random physical items we have acquired during our lives.

#3 - It is so easy to acquire most items again in the future.

Why are we so afraid to let go of things no longer serving us? Why do we think that decluttering something is so final? It is so easy to acquire things, both new and old. You can obtain books for free at your local library or even purchase them for very little cost. You can find items from the past on eBay or other auction or secondhand sites, at garage sales, antique stores, or consignment shops. You can purchase new items with only a few clicks on Amazon or thousands of other sites. These items will then be delivered straight to your door in only a matter of days. If we truly want to overcome the fear of missing out, we have to find a way to let go of this stuff that isn't bringing us

true help or joy. Letting go of these insignificant items will help to create the space and time we need in order to live our best lives. Choosing to get rid of something you don't truly want is such a powerful thing. Just know that if you change your mind later, chances are you can find it again.

Question for You:

What items are holding you back from experiencing a fuller life? Is FOMO taking precious time away from you? Please, don't let it win. Think of the time, energy, space, happiness, and relationships it is costing you to keep these items in your home. Slowly begin to discard those things which don't bring you true joy or use, and see how your life changes. I know mine did!

As always, thank you so much for reading my content!

*Please leave a comment below to let me know one thing you are going to get rid of today, so you can begin to create a home that is based on joy rather than fear.

*Check out the comments below to see what I'm purging today.

See you soon.

<3 Sierra