In the age of information and hyperconnectivity, life can feel cluttered with desire and longing. Social media’s persistent presence fosters an environment that encourages attachment to the past and to the future, and it fosters a need for more. More status, more things, and more comparing ourselves to others.

Attachment in the Digital Age

I’ve been in that “more” trap, and spent years pondering the connection of attachment and happiness. In Buddhism, non-attachment is the absence of one’s emotional and mental grip on circumstances, possessions, and relationships. But in the digital age, non-attachment takes on even more meaning. We’re attached to a virtual world that may or may not reflect truth or reality. It’s a place where past memories and future desires create a sense of dis-ease with what we are, who we are, and what we have.

The Joy of Not

To the pressure of consuming we can add FOMO, the fear of missing out. FOMO is made more compelling when we layer on notifications and device addictions. When the pressure arises, I turn to JOMO, the joy of missing out. When I think of this acronym, there is a freeing sensation  because every moment is a choice. I am exercising my ability to choose my thoughts. JOMO invites us to release the past and future via the simple act of saying no, by disconnecting, and by being honest with ourselves. Non-attachment invites us to let go of the expectations of the digital world. We come to realize that we don’t need what’s “out there” to make me feel fulfilled and whole “in here.”