Let’s Talk About Your Great Grandparents

“To enjoy the things we ought, and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.”

_Aristotle

Every day you are confronted by two fierce enemies that seek to conquer you and control your life.  They are relentless and they have allies. 

Matter of fact, these allies makes millions and billions of dollars partnering with them to drain you bank account by spying on you constantly in order to figure out ways to get you to buy things you don’t need or (deep down) want and do things that (deep down) you really don’t want to do. 

Like drinking saltwater, most people drain this cup of misery daily never stopping to think that is does not satisfy.

Who are these fierce enemies?

Answer: FOMO & FOPO

• FOMO | Fear of Missing Out
• FOPO | Fear of People’s Opinion

Like two rabid sheep dogs, FOMO and FOPO taunt you and harass you endlessly.  They love getting you to play the comparison game.  You know the spill; you were perfectly happy with your life until noticed those designed-just-for-you A.I. generated/enhanced pictures of other people’s amazing life and suddenly you feel like chopped liver. 

Of course FOMO and FOPO are there telling you that you can have that amazing life.  Matter of fact, they’re quick to tell you that it is much more urgent than that…they bark relentlessly that you MUST have that life if you hope to be happy and successful. 

What to do?

• Ask yourself, “Did this matter to my great grandparents when they were my age?”

The advantage that FOMO and FOPO have is that there is just enough truth in their sale’s pitch that they get you.  There really are some things that you do not want to miss out on, and at a certain level, other people’s opinions do matter.  

But time has a way of smoothing out the huge spikes in emotion and desire. 

If it must be done now,

If it is urgent,

If it’s the deal of a lifetime but must be purchased today,

If you’re trying to fit in and please people that you hardly know,

You probably ought to start heading for the exit.

Think generationally.

What mattered a 100 years ago?  1000 years ago?

What will matter 100 years from now?  1000 years from now?

You are a reasonable person.  You know the answer doesn’t include all that stuff in your “walk-in” closet and those friends and neighbors you hardly know.

Tend to you soul, dear friend. 

Cherish family and those true friends.

Invest in things that will last and will matter to your own great grandchildren.

Leave a good name, a good legacy, and strong testimony of how to get to heaven.

These things mattered when your great grandparents were your age, they matter now, and they will matter 100 or 1000 years from now. 

The ONE THING for today: FOMO & FOPO will be knocking on your door today.  Don’t answer.