Have you heard of JOMO?

You can listen to the audio version of this blog here.

Your friends are meeting up for an all-you-can-eat breakfast at your favourite cafe, but you’ve entered your horse in a show that day. You were really looking forward to the show until you knew that there was the option of meeting your friends instead. You can only do one activity or the other, but you want to do both. You’re suffering from FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out.

We know from scientific studies that too many options make us less happy. Even buying a pint of milk isn’t a simple decision anymore – do you buy skimmed, semi-skimmed, full fat, oat, coconut, soya, almond, or something different?! Can you be sure you’ve made the right choice, or could you be missing out on something better?

Every time we say ‘Yes’ to an opportunity, we are saying ‘No’ to an infinite number of other opportunities. To boost your happiness and overall life satisfaction, might it be possible to find gratitude for your ability to choose and focus on what you are doing (for example, taking your horse to the show) rather than what others are doing (for example, your friends having breakfast without you)? Instead of FOMO, could you embrace the decision that you’ve made and discover JOMO, the joy of missing out?

Your challenge today, should you wish to accept it, is to find a situation where you can forget the FOMO and instead find the JOMO. And then repeat multiple times.

“Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.” Barry Schwartz, in his book The Paradox of Choice

You can listen to the audio version of this blog here.

Sue Palmer MCSP, aka The Horse Physio, is an author, educator, and award-winning Chartered Physiotherapist. Sue specialises in understanding the links between equine pain and behaviour, caring deeply for her clients, and promoting calm, connection, courage and confidence through curiosity, compassion, clarity, and creativity.

Popular books and online courses from Sue Palmer include:

Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson

Understanding Horse Performance: Brain, Pain or Training?

Horse Massage for Horse Owners

Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy

Sue is registered with the RAMP, the ACPAT, the IHA, the CSP and the HCPC.