FOMO vs GIMO

So you know FOMO, right? 

If so, you know it means "fear of missing out", and leads to things like envy, bad decision making, purchase anxiety, and spending too much time on social media checking out what everyone else is doing.

Am I missing something by not following the latest trend or buying the latest must-have item? Do those in the know realize something I do not because I am a big dummy?

FOMO is a buyer's nightmare, and a seller's best friend regardless of what stuff or service they have to sell.

Humans are a herd animal, and when everyone else is doing something, like paying over $500,000 dollars for an average house in Canada, or $50,000 dollars for an average car, it makes FOMOs want to do the same thing. 

Regardless of whether that thing makes sense to you or not. 

It is caused by a pervasive anxiety about missing something good when it appears everyone except for you is getting in on the latest thing to make life great again.

FOMO is looking at the Jones' and perceiving that they are having more fun, living better lives, and experiencing better things than you are, and it can be mentally (not to mention financially) exhausting.

But what about GIMO? It was brought to my attention, and perhaps coined, by a reader in a recent comment on this blog post.

This new-to-me acronym stands for "glad I'm missing out", and I love it.

Not getting caught up in FOMO, and thinking for one's self in a logical manner, leads to GIMO.

It does not matter what anyone else is doing or buying or where they are travelling to. 

Find out for yourself what you like doing and what makes you happy. Chances are it is something different than the herd-approved things, and you aren't missing out on anything.

Then you can dismiss the fog of FOMO and develop an attitude that allows you to say, "glad I'm missing out" on all the keeping up with the Jones' silliness.

Give the heave-ho 

to FOMO,

and say hello 

to GIMO.

It's the way to go.