I have heard something this past week and it applies to everyone, not just authors. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) or Fear of Missing Something (FMS) is one of those things we can all feel at times. For me, I feel I’m writing an idea that’s already been done before or the genre craze it’s in will pass. For others it might be the rush to finish a project, advance quickly in your career, get skinny quick, etc.
FOMO is something that can influence us all at some point or another, but really it just increases a sense of anxiety we can do without. Ever had someone utter the phrase, “just breathe”? Well, no shit, right? Otherwise I’d die.
It really should be something like: take a deep breath, hold it until you think you’re going to be uncomfortable, then a little longer. Wait for it… and when your chest starts to hurt, try to remember what was so important? When you breathe in again, isn’t it the best? One: you’re not dead, hooray! Two: it’s an exercise reminding you how the everyday, no-thought-required things don’t mean a lot until you take away the effort of just letting them happen. I could have used blinking instead but what fun is that compared to suffocation, right?
FOMO is a lot like having a suffocation feeling all the time. Do you want that in your life? Me either! Point is, just breathe normally and relax. Life is going to happen whether you force it or simply let it happen.
I picked up the notion of this topic from a great podcast called Petal to the Metal. Feel free to check them out and let them know I sent you! (It will confuse the shit out of them)
Jonas Lee 