MSS #106: Why People Give Up – How to Use FOMO to Motivate Yourself

MSS #106: Why People Give Up – How to Use FOMO to Motivate Yourself

18 Jan, 2025

🕒Read time: 3.7 minutes

🚀In a hurry? Cut straight to the heading “The FOMO Formula for Action” - reduced read time 1.8 minutes.

Giving up is rarely about laziness or lack of effort—it’s often tied to emotional barriers, mental blocks, or fear.

I prefer to show how to overcome procrastination dealing with our beliefs, tied up within our fear system. However we can take a more simplistic approach and use FOMO to help us.

This week, we’ll explore how to identify why you’re giving up, pinpoint what you’re afraid to miss out on (your FOMO) and use it as fuel to reignite your motivation.

Why People Often Give Up

People don’t quit because they’re incapable—they quit because:

• Their self belief is depleted.

• Progress feels too slow or insignificant.

• They are not connected with their purpose.

• Fear of failure overshadows their desire to succeed.

• The short-term discomfort of trying feels heavier than the long-term reward.

One way to overcome this? Is realising that inaction has a price too.

The cost of staying where you are, is often far greater than the discomfort of moving forward.

We can use FOMO to help get us moving forward.

Your FOMO: The Key to Action

FOMO—fear of missing out—is a powerful motivator.

While it’s often associated with social media or events, FOMO runs deeper.

It’s tied to the things that truly matter to you, like:

1. Career Growth: Missing out on that promotion or role you’ve been aiming for.

2. Recognition: Never being noticed for your potential or talents.

3. Financial Security: Staying stuck in a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

4. Self-Worth: The regret of not becoming the person you know you can be.

When you connect your goals to your deepest FOMO, the pain of staying still becomes more uncomfortable than the effort of moving forward.

The FOMO Formula for Action

Take this approach to building your motivation formula.

1. Identify Why You’re Giving Up

o Write down the exact reason you feel like quitting. Be specific.

o Example: “I feel overwhelmed because the task feels too big.”

2. Uncover Your FOMO

o Ask: What will I miss out on if I give up?

o Example: “If I stop, I’ll miss the chance to be seen as someone who delivers great results at work.”

3. Turn FOMO into Motivation

o Build a compelling self-argument: What’s at stake if I stop? What will I gain if I push forward?

o Example: “If I keep going, I could complete this and position myself for a promotion. If I give up, I’ll stay stuck in the same spot while others move ahead.”

Turning Common Giving-Up Triggers into Motivation

Here are practical ways to flip reasons for giving up into reasons to act:

1. Expecting Fast Results

o Trigger: “This is taking too long; it’s not working.”

o Motivation: Remind yourself that small steps lead to big change. FOMO: “If I quit now, where will I be in a year compared to those who kept going?”

2. Fear of Failure

o Trigger: “What if I mess up?”

o Motivation: Understand that failure teaches you more than inaction ever will. FOMO: “Every mistake brings me closer to success. If I give up, I’ll never know what I could have achieved.”

3. Overwhelm and Overwork

o Trigger: “I can’t handle this; it’s too much.”

o Motivation: Break it down. Start with one micro-task today. FOMO: “If I don’t start, I’ll never finish—and someone else will claim the success I want.”

4. Dwelling on Mistakes

o Trigger: “I failed last time; I’ll fail again.”

o Motivation: Use your past mistakes as a blueprint for better decisions. FOMO: “If I don’t try again, I’ll stay stuck reliving my failures instead of writing a new story.”

5. Believing Problems Are Unique

o Trigger: “Nobody else has to deal with this.”

o Motivation: Remember that everyone faces challenges. FOMO: “Others have overcome similar struggles—if I stop now, I’ll never know if I could have done the same.”

Practical Example of the FOMO Formula

Here’s a practical example,

• Challenge: You’re procrastinating on a fitness goal.

• Why You’re Giving Up: “It’s hard, and I don’t feel like I’m making progress.”

• Your FOMO: “If I don’t stick with this, I’ll lose the chance to feel healthy, confident, and capable.”

• Motivation: “Even if progress is slow, every workout brings me closer to feeling stronger and more energetic. If I quit, I’ll stay stuck feeling tired and frustrated.”

Appendix: Why People Give Up and FOMO Ideas

Common Reasons People Give Up

It has to be said, often these are excuses we create for ourselves, to feel a bit better blaming our inaction on external factors seemingly not in our control.

• Resist change.

• Dwell on mistakes.

• Expect fast results.

• Overwork and burnout.

• Stop believing in themselves.

• Fear the future or uncertainty.

• See failure as a signal to turn back.

• Assume their problems are unique.

• Feel the world owes them something.

• Fear failure more than desire success.

• Believe their weaknesses define them.

FOMO Ideas to Motivate

Here are some typical sources of motivation you might tap into.

1. Career: Missing out on a promotion, leadership role, or recognition.

2. Financial: Losing opportunities to increase income or build stability.

3. Personal Growth: Regret over not becoming your best self.

4. Relationships: Missing meaningful connections or respect from peers.

5. Legacy: Failing to leave a positive impact or achieve something memorable.

6. Health: Losing the chance to feel strong, confident, and energetic.

7. Freedom: Staying stuck in a routine or lifestyle you want to escape.

Summary

Procrastination and giving up are often tied to emotional barriers and short-term thinking.

The key to pushing forward is connecting your effort to what you truly care about—the thing you’d regret missing out on most.

Quick Recap:

• People give up for reasons like fear, overwhelm, or impatience.

• Your biggest FOMO—career growth, recognition, personal growth—can motivate action.

• Apply the FOMO formula: Identify why you’re stuck, uncover your FOMO, and create a compelling argument to act.

• Turn triggers for giving up into triggers for starting again.

🌱 What’s your biggest FOMO? Use it today to reignite your motivation and take one step forward.

See you next week for more insights. Until then, don’t let hesitation steal your future—act boldly and start today.

See you next week. One more thought 👇

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That's it for this week. Thanks for reading, really hope this helped. Contact me if you think I can help you further at [email protected].

Happy thinking.