“Left Out? or Living Large”
Naina and Bunny from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
“Jitna bhi try karo Bunny, life me kuch na kuch toh chootega hi. Toh jahan hai, wahin ka mazaa lete hai”
Remember this iconic dialogue from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani? Naina said it casually, but isn’t it the truth of our everyday lives? No matter how much we try, we can’t be everywhere, do everything, or keep up with every trend. So why not just be present where we are?
Yet, the biggest FOMO today doesn’t come from missing an event, it comes from watching someone else’s highlight reel. You’re having a quiet Sunday, but one scroll through Instagram, and suddenly, everyone else seems to be at a music festival, a beach in Bali, or having the time of their life at a house party. You see someone getting promoted, another person getting engaged, and you wonder: Am I missing out on something? Am I behind?
But here’s the reality: a lot of what we see online is just content. We’re not actually missing out on deep, life-changing experiences. More often than not, we’re just missing out on the latest controversy on Twitter or X, a TikTok/Instagram trend that will be forgotten in a week, or yet another round of people roasting someone in the comment section. Think about it, how often do we click on a viral video, not because we care about it, but just to see the “savage” comments? The internet thrives on making us feel like there’s always something bigger, funnier, or more dramatic happening somewhere else. But is it really worth our mental space?
And then there’s clickbait, the ultimate FOMO trigger. YouTube thumbnails screaming, “You WON’T BELIEVE what happened next!” or “This will CHANGE EVERYTHING!” We’ve all fallen for them. “One Secret That Will Make You a Millionaire Overnight!” “Scientists FEAR This New Discovery!” “Watch Before It Gets Deleted!” Most of the time, these videos are just overhyped fluff, stretching the truth to keep you watching. And yet, they work because they trigger curiosity, urgency, and the dreaded FOMO—the fear of missing out. The fear that maybe, just maybe, this one video holds life-changing information that you must know.
So I just paused and asked myself: What am I really missing? Will my life be any different if I don’t know which celebrity got “exposed” today? or If I never watch that video claiming to reveal “the truth they don’t want us to know”? Probably not.
Most of the time, you’re not missing anything essential. You’re not losing out on deep insights, personal growth, or anything that truly impacts your life. You’re just missing out on the illusion of importance, on manufactured drama, on information that’s often exaggerated or irrelevant.
But let’s flip the perspective. What if missing out was actually good for us? Think about the last time you put your phone away and truly enjoyed the moment. Maybe it was a lazy Sunday morning with chai and your favorite book, or a spontaneous conversation with a friend that stretched for hours. That’s the real JOMO—the Joy of Missing Out. Missing out on the noise, the unnecessary comparisons, the feeling that you need to be somewhere else to be happy. When you disconnect from what drains you, you create space for what fills you, meaningful conversations, mindful moments, and the ability to truly enjoy the present.
What I realize is that embracing JOMO starts with small, intentional choices. Try setting social media boundaries like maybe a no-phone morning or an evening detox, to free up mental space. Being mindful of how you spend your time; instead of passively scrolling, choosing activities that bring real joy, like reading, walking, or having an uninterrupted conversation. JOMO can be found in learning to enjoy solitude, whether through journaling, meditating, or simply sitting in silence, you’ll find clarity in the quiet. We can reframe our perspective: missing out isn’t losing, it’s making space for something better.
So, the next time, you feel that FOMO is starting to creep in, take a moment to pause and ask yourself: Are you really missing out, or are you exactly where you're meant to be? Because more often than not, the life unfolding around you is already richer and more meaningful than anything on a screen.