GOMO, not FOMO!

This time of year, I often catch myself slipping into the “Clark Griswold Syndrome.” Maybe you’ve been afflicted too—the weight of lofty expectations (“Do it right and do it big!” as Clark would say), and the pressure to create the perfect season for everyone around you.  All of this on top of the fast pace of holiday busyness and routine demands of life. What begins in the innocence of good intentions can eventually spiral into exhaustion. Joy slowly fades, replaced by frustration and anxiety.

Most of the time, the culprit is what we know as FOMO—the Fear Of Missing Out. We see polished moments on social media or cling to our own idealistic visions, and suddenly we feel the need to do more, be more, and keep up so we don’t “miss out.”

What if instead of FOMO, we embraced GOMO—Gratitude Over Missing Out?

There’s a reason gratitude is so powerful: it shifts the focus of our hearts. Many say it’s impossible to feel gratitude and anxiety at the same time. How fitting, then, that our holiday season begins with a day set aside for giving thanks.

God’s Word reminds us that there is a blessing of peace and power in seeking God with thanksgiving:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6–8 (NLT)

Herein lies the invitation:

Be intentional in your thinking. Choose gratitude by naming the blessings in your life—better yet, write them down on a regular basis in a journal. Bring your needs to God, thank Him for His grace and goodness, and allow His peace to settle in your heart. When we choose gratitude, we choose a mindset that aligns with His truth.

So, this season, when anxiety whispers (or screams…) that you’re missing out, make a different choice.  Choose GOMO, not FOMO…and discover the peace God has promised!

Happy Thanksgiving!