Do you ever feel that you're missing out? It's a common feeling, but one that isn't always based on fact. We look at other people and imagine that they're living the perfect lives. We feel that we'll never achieve what they've done, and have the home, relationship or money that we want. If only we could afford to go on our dream vacation, or go out more! But you shouldn't be afraid of missing out, and here's why …
Looking at other people and seeing what they have can often make us envious and feel that we're missing out because we don't have the same things. But we never see the full picture, and don't know everything about their lives. Maybe their lives aren't as great as we think! Everyone has problems, even the people who seem to have it all …
Don't fret if you haven't achieved your goals yet; there's plenty of time. We often impose unnecessary time limits on ourselves, and think that we have to achieve things by a certain age. It's never too late where most things are concerned, so stop worrying and thinking you've missed the boat. You haven't.
If you feel you're missing out because you don't have what other people have, stop thinking like that. You're veering dangerously close to envying them, and that's not a good emotion. Appreciate what you do have, rather than envying what you don't. And if you really want something, work for it.
Bucket lists may be fun to make, and it's great if you can tick some of them off. But chances are it's impossible to do everything you'd like to do. So why feel that you're missing out because you can't afford to visit all the countries you'd like to see? Enjoy your memories of the places you have been to. Besides, the other countries aren't going anywhere, so you might get to see them one day.
The fear of missing out can lead us to make mistakes. We rush into situations because we think we're running out of time; for example, if you're in your 30s and want children, you may rush into a relationship because you think you don't have time to wait. It's often better to wait until the time (and the person) is right, rather than get into a relationship with the wrong person.
If you really feel that you're missing out on something important, then do something about it. Sitting around complaining won't get you anywhere! Work out what you need to do, and then take action. What you want won't just fall into your lap; the people who are doing the things you feel you're missing out on have actually done something to get to that place.
Lastly, it's better to appreciate what you have rather than worry about what you don't have. Changing your focus will help you to feel more content and lose any sense of missing out. Even if you had or did all the things that you feel you're missing out on, you wouldn't necessarily be happy - rich people have problems too!
So what do you have to be thankful for? Give it some thought …