Although Karel and I had our plans set on focusing on IM Kona this year, Karel and I are having a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) in looking at all the incredible pictures of athletes at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France. What a beautiful race venue! But thankfully, we have four amazing Trimarni athletes who are participating and we can virtually share the experience with each of them.
As it relates to social media, we can quickly see that people often post pictures and updates showing the highlights of life - the good moments. From this perspective, social media can be viewed as "fake" because we only see the best side of what's happening in the lives of others. However, this is not always the case. When used properly, social media is a way to connect with others, share experience and document important moments in life. Behind every smiling post is a story.
As I scroll through social media and see picture after picture of athletes in beautiful Nice, France, as much as I'd love to be there, I am not destroyed by envy. It's actually the opposite - I'm so super excited for others to experience a World Championship event in such a beautiful location! I know the work it takes to get to the start line - and not every journey is a smooth one (I can attest to that!). We must remember that anytime an athlete posts a picture in the days leading up to an event, we must not forget the sacrifice, investments, work and struggles that were needed to get to the start line. The accomplishment lies in the journey, not the final destination.
When it comes to social media and FOMO, we must not resent other people's successful moments. Bitterness robs you of your mental strength and can affect your emotional well-being.
Here are a few tips to help you deal with FOMO:
As I scroll through social media and see picture after picture of athletes in beautiful Nice, France, as much as I'd love to be there, I am not destroyed by envy. It's actually the opposite - I'm so super excited for others to experience a World Championship event in such a beautiful location! I know the work it takes to get to the start line - and not every journey is a smooth one (I can attest to that!). We must remember that anytime an athlete posts a picture in the days leading up to an event, we must not forget the sacrifice, investments, work and struggles that were needed to get to the start line. The accomplishment lies in the journey, not the final destination.
When it comes to social media and FOMO, we must not resent other people's successful moments. Bitterness robs you of your mental strength and can affect your emotional well-being.
Here are a few tips to help you deal with FOMO:
- Don't compare - Comparison is the thief of joy. Comparing yourself to other people isn't a healthy way to measure your self-worth. We all have our own journey to follow and our own obstacles to overcome. Most of all, we all have our own unique talents, strengths and experiences.
- Be accepting - It's often said that it takes 10-years to become an overnight success. Don't diminish someone else's accomplishment as you don't know what he/she had to overcome (or how long it took) to get to where they are today. Acknowledge achievement without judgement. Be proud of the success of others.
- Don't assume - When you make an assumption, you are filling in blanks with your interpretation of what you see or hear. Assumptions can spiral into negative thinking - believing that you aren't good enough, smart enough, working hard enough....... When you look to social media for validation that your assumptions about yourself are correct, you may believe that everyone is successful, except for you. Before you make an assumption, ask yourself if what you are thinking is the truth - about others and about yourself.
- Acknowledge your strengths - Just because you think the grass is greener on the other side, this doesn't mean that you need to follow in their footsteps. Chase your own dreams, accept that you can't do it all (or be great at everything), create your own definition of success, keep your eyes on your own path and most of all, recognize your own strengths. Instead of wasting your precious time comparing yourself to others, spend it figuring out what is meaningful to you.
- Stay present - Take the time to enjoy where you are now, instead of constantly chasing the next accomplishment or searching for the next "best ever" experience. Appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you lack or feel you need to be happy. Be grateful for what you have in life right now, in this moment.