Fear, Not; Courage is Action

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it." - Desmond Tutu

I HATE Roller Coasters

And willingly, I've ridden one everyday of this year. Not a real one like at Six Flags or somewhere like that. But just the roller coaster that is life. No other year in all of my life has been more up and down than this year, 2017.

The first half of the year I was on a high like no other I've ever felt in my life. It's been the pinnacle of my existence so far. I was abroad. I was experiencing different countries, cultures, food, drink, environments, and people. I was living a dream without a care for the "real" life of work, salaries, mortgages, or debt. At times it was surreal. I was liberated. I was free to do as I pleased for those days and weeks away.

And the 2nd half of the year was as if I was in a hot air balloon and someone had shot an arrow into the nylon fabric piercing the material causing a slow release of hot air that was previously keeping me afloat. And I was in a long, slow descent towards the rocky bottom of the a canyon where I'd be swept into the current of a winding river and taken along a combination of rapids and lulls with no end in sight.

Both halves allowed me to feel in ways that I've never felt before - extreme happiness / excitement and the dark doldrums.

I have yet to have my phoenix-like resurrection from the depths of unemployment, but I'm trying to work my way out. I'm trying to stay positive and look forward to the brighter days ahead. There are sure to be more twists and turns to this wild ride, but I hope I can overcome the fears, trials, and tribulations to have a meteoric rise from this Grand Canyon to the summit of my Mount Everest.

The Internet Era's Biggest Baddest FEAR

In the era of technological advancements there is a new phobia that strikes even the bravest of souls. For some people, it forces changes in sleeping patterns from waking up earlier than the rooster to going to sleep just before sunrise. It's a fear so powerful that it has the ability to cause anxiety. This phobia is also one of the few that is triggered by positive events. Everyone loves to say that they were there when it happened...if it's a good thing. No one wants to be around if it's devastation and chaos. That's right everyone, I'm talking about the "fear of missing out" otherwise known colloquially as FOMO. 

I believe that FOMO developed from the strains society has placed on keeping up with current events. With media feeds like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook everyone can keep tabs on everyone else, in addition to all the promotional posts from various media outlets relaying the news and advertisements. The constant scrolling up and down through all the microblogging platforms has given rise to the idea of staying current, and the importance of being current has been emphasized by social media. It's a vicious cycle. It's the feeling of being left out that drives the repetitive nature. 

The real question is, are you really "missing out?" My initial response is no. If it doesn't affect you directly, then you're not missing out. And maybe that's my old school mentality kicking in. I'm in the in-between generation that grew up in a time when internet wasn't even around. I aged at the same pace as the world wide web was developed and skyrocketed into daily use. There was a time when we read newspapers in paper format rather than digital. It used to be that you had to wait for the news to come to you. There was no such thing as real-time updates for anything. 

FOMO is not just a social media concept either. It's application in real life is clear. People fear missing out on parties, social events, and other experiences. 

How do you combat FOMO? 

• Don't scroll. In this case, the more you know, the worse your FOMO becomes. Get updates about events you were interested in the traditional way. Talk to someone who was there, but take their words with a grain of salt as we know some opinions can be exaggerated. 
• Check on WHO matters the most to you. Because it's your loved one and closest friends that will have the most impact on you. It doesn't matter WHAT is happening, but it matters who is having fun and who is safe.
• Let the news outlets do their jobs. Watch the news on TV. Read the newspaper. Occasionally check the news websites. But don't scroll through social media to get your news. 

I know that FOMO comes from deeper psychological issues that are very important to mental health. And I don't mean to oversimplify the issue at all. I'm just pointing out the surface level / observable habits and possibly ways to help reduce the anxiety. Here's an article that might help. But if you believe that you or someone you know has extreme anxiety from FOMO, it's probably best to speak with a professional to help relieve the stress this condition creates. (546)

Back In The Days When I Was Young, I'm Not A Kid Anymore

As a child you fear nothing and risk everything. You have nothing to lose. 

But as an adult, you fear many things and risk less because you know better.