If you’re scared of being left out, you’ll notice every plan you weren’t in. Fear chooses what you see.

Fear works like a search instruction, and your attention obeys it. Afraid of being left out, you will catch every photo you are not in and miss every invitation you did get, and then the evidence looks overwhelming. It is not overwhelming, it is filtered, and you were the filter. That is the hard part to see from inside it.

Count the other side this week, deliberately. Who did message you, who saved you a seat, who asked where you were: write down three. When the feeling comes back, read the list before you act on it, and do not send the message you will regret.