FOMO: Fear of missing out.

Time seems to creep slowly when stuck in a room recovering from surgery. The infinite reading time, video games, movies, and shows all find their boredom point with haste. Then there is social media. Spinning down screen to see your church family worshipping, birthday parties being celebrated, and a group of friends going axe throwing! FOMO can set in quickly.

The apostle Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

How in the world did Paul learn this? He learned to be content in any situation… any!?! I’ve found many ways to not be content, but the battle for contentment is compounded with social media plastering axe throwing, brewery visiting, and skateboarding in every scroll. I’m taking some intentional steps to curb FOMO and find joy in my current situation by thinking through these questions regularly.

1. What opportunities does my current situation give me that I would have missed otherwise?

2. Am I letting my thoughts run free or am I in control of my own thinking?

3. How am I spending my 24 hours each day? (Literally, I’m logging my hours. Currently Fortnite time is reigning supreme, probably because I get to talk to other humans.)

4. What is my default time waster? What can I do instead?

5. What new habits can I develop with this new perspective?

These questions have helped turn my emotions around. In addition to daily management of my life I am also compiling a dream list of things I will do as my recovery moves forward. If you can’t tell from earlier, axe throwing… axe throwing is on my list. As soon as I’m up and going on my new peg leg (aka i-walk 2.0) I will donning a pirate hat and throwing axes.

*For those of you who have managed life while stuck* – What did you do to find contentment in your situation?