The Cold Hard/Ugly Truth About FOMO
Did you ever turn down an opportunity because you knew that as soon as you did another better opportunity would come up?
The sad part is that a better opportunity normally doesn’t come through.
So why do you have this tendency?
Why can you not commit to what’s in front of you?
It’s called FOMO
FOMO is short for – Fear Of Missing Out.
You can’t commit because you are afraid that locking into Option “A” will keeping you from being able to choose Option “B”.
How can you choose him or her instead of him or her?
Can anyone make up their mind about their career?
Should I narrow my options by picking this degree?
[Tweet “You have come down with a case of “choice paralysis.” Similar to when you go to the grocery store to buy toothpaste. You can’t just pick one because all the other toothpaste promises you something that the other doesn’t.”]
So what do you do?
Option 1: Listen to yourself
One option is to listen to yourself.
You can stay at a stand-still because you have convinced yourself that there is something better just around the corner.
[Tweet “Listening to your inner voice is not necessarily bad. Unfortunately, your inner voice is normally in self-preservation mode and will opt out of making any decision that you think will limit you or keep you from some “better” opportunity.”]
The bigger problem is that you are not God.
There are endless possibilities to work through. Too many for a finite human to see to their completion.
When you try to look at every possibility, you are at a stand still because you are trying to play God. And those are some shoes that you will never be able to fill.
[Tweet “Only God can see the end to every road you choose to take. He is the only one the holds the future in His hands.”]
So the best bet would be to fully rely on Him and trust that He holds the outcome no matter what you choose to do.
Option 2: Let God speak into your fear
2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God doesn’t want you to stagnate.
He wants you to seek Him, listen to His voice, and then act.
Listen to God and decide
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Choosing a certain option over the countless other options is a step of faith.
When you make this decision you are telling God that you trust that no matter what He is the one who ultimately holds your future.
[Tweet “Fear says don’t move just in case. Faith says go for it because God is in control.”]
A few words of caution
Be mindful before you make a decision
Knowing yourself is helpful when you are trying to make a decision.
So think before you make that decision:
- Am I tired right now?
- When am do I feel the best?
- When am I most awake and alert?
- What time of day am I most energized?
- Is there a certain day of the week in which i normally find myself in a bad mood?
The decision might not give the results you expected
You feel 100% sure that a certain decision is the right one and still fall flat on your face.
God can use those experiences and do something great in you.
[Tweet “Be intentional in seeing God’s grace in your victories and your failures.”]
Genuine trust in God says God is good in my failures and my victories.
Choices have consequences
In Numbers 14 the chosen people of God have a choice to make.
- Venture out into the unknown and trust Him.
- Or
- Keep their options open for a safer option.
They chose the latter. This decision came with a consequence – God allowed to choose a safer option. But this safer option was to walk aimlessly in the desert until all who didn’t trust God died instead of getting to go into the promised land.
FOMO is dangerous in that we can choose to leave our options open for when a better, safer options comes available.
God is good and wants the best for us. When you trust in Him you are declaring that He is good and trustworthy. So trust glorifies God.
Gut Check:
What areas of your life is FOMO holding you back?
Is there a decision you are not making because you are waiting for a better or safer option?
Are you disguising FOMO with phrases like:
- I am just being cautious
- I am just waiting for the right opportunity
- I’m not sure if this is what God is calling me to
Check out these other resources:
staking-your-life-on-gods-faithfulness
why-regret-should-be-1-of-the-7-deadly-sins
you-need-more-than-what-youre-asking-for
