FOPO, or the fear of other people's opinions, creates anxiety and disconnects individuals from their inner strengths and purpose. People often seek validation, allowing others' opinions to influence their choices and self-esteem, resulting in potential harm over time. This concept was introduced by psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais, who warns that caring excessively about others leads to diminished aspirations, where one plays it safe rather than embracing risks and personal mastery. Although social connections were crucial for survival in the past, contemporary validation often comes from social media.
Caring too much about other people's opinions can disconnect us from our inner strengths and sense of purpose. It's critical we shift our focus away from people's opinions to achieve our goals.
FOPO, in short, is the fear of other people's opinions. When we care too much or allow others' opinions to guide our choices and sense of self-worth, they can do us great harm.
Dr. Michael Gervais introduced FOPO in his 2023 book. He emphasizes that this fear compels individuals to play it safe and small, avoiding failure rather than pursuing their true potential.
Without strong social connections, our ancestors could not have survived. Today, we continue to measure our self-worth in relation to what others think of us, especially on social media.
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