I heard this term from a guest on Simon Sinek’s podcast (performance coach Mike Gervais) and LOVE that there is a now a word to describe such a universal human experience.
We are conditioned to fear negative judgement from others and avoid rejection. For our hunter gatherer ancestors, it would have meant certain death to be side-lined by the tribe. The lamb on the outside of the flock is the one most likely to be devoured by a hungry wolf.
It may no longer mean life or death in most circumstances, but when we think others judge us negatively, it can really feel that way.
How might this impact our careers and our capacity to pivot?
We keep ourselves “small”, not allowing the bigger version of our dreams and aspirations any airtime for fear of looking silly
We avoid taking risks in case it doesn’t work out and people judge us for “failing”
We struggle on alone, reluctant to ask for help from people who might be able to support and accelerate our shift
Are you letting FOPO hold you back? If so, remember these things..
Most people aren’t even thinking about you, they’ve got their own sh*t to worry about
Our brain’s negativity bias means we’re much more likely to have a harsh opinion of ourselves than we do of others. How might you see another person in a similar situation to you?
People actually LOVE to help, so if you reach out, you’re actually giving them the gift of being of service.
What might you do or try if you didn’t worry what others thought of you? Share in the comments!