How To Avoid Fears Of Growing Old

You have likely heard of FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out. It is often used to refer to being left out of a social gathering or event. Social media has been a driver of FOMO as people showcase their best selves (with the right people at the right places) on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Jealousy and envy can creep up when we feel left out. Societal pressure in conjunction with the fear of missing out can decrease our level of happiness.

Now the fear of growing old is so common it is being called FOGO. One survey of more than 2000 Americans 18 and older revealed that 87 percent of them had at least one fear of getting older. From my own experience, some fears are real and some are not so real. For instance, when I was a college professor, I assumed all college students knew more about technology than I did. I feared not knowing how to use technology as well as they. What I discovered was that what most college students knew about technology was not very deep. I might have known less than them, but what I did know I understood at a deeper level.

Please check out the full article in Forbes.com