#02 - THERE IS A NEW FEAR IN TOWN KNOWN AS FOMO

Not long ago, I was reading an article online then I came across this true but often deniable concept known as FOMO—which simply means the Fear Of Missing Out.

At first, I thought the concept absolutely makes no meaning, but then, after looking closely and observing the nature of certain occurrences in the modern world we live in today, I was convinced that a concept like FOMO is not in any way foreign to our understanding.

Best selling Author Mark Manson noted the Fear Of Missing Out as a compulsive desire to experience something (or be somewhere) motivated not by what you gain, but rather by the fear of what you will potentially lose.

This compulsiveness is one among many other reasons why the world is actually messed up right now—and from my point of view, the internet is the major catalyst spurring this deceptive compulsiveness.

And given the internet's evident advantageousness in various dimensions, one would be quick to be in flat denial of accepting the internet as the reason why we all are fucked up.

Whatever it is, the internet is really playing mind games with us. And what saddens the most is that we often have little or no control over its downsides to our lives, most especially when it comes to issues like experiencing the Fear Of Missing Out.

To tell the truth, social sites like facebook, instagram amongst others are the the major contributors to this phobia.

Alas, with so many people outrightly using the internet, the chances of being fully immersed in this Fear Of Missing Out is quite high—don't even think of the how—because you won't know—it happens without you even knowing.

Take a close look, you will see that we are always presented on a daily basis with different kinds of information on the internet. Of which some are completely crap—full of nothing but belittling elements which exposes us to things we shouldn't even be concerned about.

Come to think of it: is the internet really serving humanity or we are the one's actually serving it? Clearly, for most people, they are the one's at its mercy. It seems that many are subconsciously in its captivity without even knowing. And this is as a result of what the internet presents to us everyday—check around you, you will see people who no longer live happily because of something they saw or came across somewhere online. I repeat, check around you, and you will see people who are always stuck in the fear of missing or lacking one thing or the other.

But back then, say a hundred years ago who cares about all the trash the internet puts forth to us. Probably everyone was at his farm trying to get some cash into his pocket to feed his family and fulfill some basic needs.

Today, the reverse is the case. Almost everyone is bombarded with countless things to fear about. If it is not the phobia of not measuring up with what the society thinks or believes to be the standards then it is the fear of another.

This is why there is an increasing trend of fakeness almost everywhere. Put differently, we cherish living on the basis of what we are truly not. For example, I've seen people who buy things they don't need just to impress people they don't have to even if it is going to be a pain in the ass.

I just don't get the sense in it.

I've heard people saying things like I really need to buy an iPhone X, if I don't buy it I would be an outcast in the midst of my friends. So also, I have heard others saying I need to buy this cloth for my friend's wedding. Argh! If I don't wear it to that wedding I will be looked down upon. I just have to buy it oh! If not, my friends will finish me. In fact “then go say I never arrive.”

Argh! “Na Wa Oh”

This makes me wonder, and at the same ponder about what we have become as a people. Could this be modern day slavery? Could this be the end of the world or what? Because to be honest, I find it hard to belief that we have somewhat become the prisoners of our very own selves.

However, we must do something about it. Even though there is no proven way of bringing it to an end, we still have to try. And I think what we ought to do now is to revitalise our thought process. We need to explore new dimensions of thinking whilst we dump mindsets and views which project nothing but demeaning comparisons.

It is not a matter of wanting to or not. It is not an option. it is a must—to put some spark into our thought process. I have to do it. You have to do it. Otherwise we will continue moving about in this self depreciative Fear Of Missing Out.

Thank you.