FOMO—fear of missing out—is a common thing, especially among people who spend a lot of time on social media. (And someone will probably hashtag it by the time you finish reading this.) It’s the worry that cool, fun, fabulous things are going on without you, and it’s rooted in a primal component on the brain that regulates emotions and long-term memory, and helps activate the stress response when we feel threatened or insecure. The key to not letting FOMO get the best of you is remembering that the only thing holding you back from experiencing life’s greatest pleasures is the thought that you can’t.

MORE: The Psychology of FOMO