“Good vibes only!”

“Think positive.”

“Positive vibes only.”

Heard these lines before? I have heard them way too many times and sometimes they feel forced. You cannot think positive all the time.

Negative thoughts, negativity, negative feeling – these are as natural as the sunshine and moonlight. It is okay to have negative feelings, that is what I am saying.

Now that that’s been established let us talk about JOMO – the joy of missing out for a moment.

What is JOMO you ask?

JOMO stands for the Joy of Missing Out, a mindset of enjoying what you’re doing in each moment without worrying about what everyone else is doing. It’s about being present, content, and free from the pressure of constant comparison.

When you embrace JOMO, you experience:

1. Less stress 
2. Less anxiety
3. Increase in the happiness quotient
4. Better health
5. Better focus

But how does JOMO help when you’re feeling low?

Negative feelings are inevitable—but they don’t have to control you. Here’s how you can use JOMO to manage them with intention.

1. Acknowledge Without Judgment

First thing you need to do is acknowledge that there are negative feelings.

Often, we try to suppress emotions with forced positivity (“I shouldn’t feel this way”) or by drowning them in distractions (doomscrolling, binge-watching, overworking). But ignoring emotions doesn’t make them disappear—it just buries them deeper.

Instead, try externalising them:

📝 Write them down.

🎤 Voice-note them like you’re talking to a friend.

When you name what you’re feeling and let it exist outside of your mind, it becomes easier to process.

Next thing you need to do is to be compassionate towards yourself. Tell yourself that it is okay to have negative feelings.

2. Create space

Instead of running away from your feelings, create space for them. Let go of all the usual distractions, social media, notifications, external noise.

Try grounding practices that slow your mind:

🌿 Journaling – Pour out your thoughts without judgment..

🧘‍♀️ Meditation – Even just 5 minutes of mindful breathing can help.

🌬 Take deep breaths. Helps signal to your brain that you are safe.

🚶‍♂️ Go for walks. A moving meditation that clears mental fog.

Use JOMO to sit with your thoughts instead of running away from them.

3. Reframe

Once you have given yourself enough time to sit with it try and reframe your thoughts by shifting your focus on what is to gain.

💡 Use affirmations to shift your mindset. Not forced positivity, but gentle reminders like:
“This feeling is temporary.”
“I am allowed to feel, and I am allowed to heal.”

Journal more and this time try to untangle your thoughts and try seeing them in a more positive light.

4. Do something that grounds you

When emotions feel overwhelming, slow down with intentional activities.

Engage in something that keeps your hands busy but your mind calm:
🍵 Making tea or coffee mindfully.
🎨 Drawing or painting.
🥖 Baking or cooking.
🧘‍♂️ Gentle stretching or yoga.

Slower activities help the brain shift out of stress mode and create room for new perspectives to emerge. Sometimes, when we stop actively searching for answers, they appear naturally.

5. Find Comfort in Connection

JOMO doesn’t mean isolating yourself—it means choosing connection intentionally.

If you feel up to it, have a deep conversation with someone you trust. Speaking your thoughts out loud can bring surprising clarity—you hear yourself in a new way, and sometimes, that alone helps.

Or, if you’re not ready to talk, simply spend time with someone who makes you feel safe. Sit in comfortable silence. Share a meal. No pressure, just presence.

6. Accept That This Too Shall Pass

As we acknowledged having negative thoughts, the same way acknowledge that they are inevitable and it is okay to have those thoughts.

Remember, negative feelings don’t define you, and peace is always within reach.