FOBO (Fear Of a Better Option) is the fear that, whatever choice we make, there might be something better that we will miss. The term was popularised by entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis — the same person who spread FOMO. If FOMO is the fear of missing an experience, FOBO is the fear of committing to the wrong choice.
Imagine spending half an hour on your phone looking for a restaurant, keeping five tabs open for the same product, or being unable to book a holiday because something better might come up. Infinite options, instead of freeing us, trap us in endless procrastination.
Psychologically, FOBO is linked to perfectionism and to the fear of regret. We want the optimal solution and we fear the cost of committing, so we keep all doors open. The paradox is that the constant search for the best leaves us, in the end, more dissatisfied with whatever we choose.
The antidote is to learn to choose good enough instead of perfect, and to accept that every decision closes some doors — and that is normal. If difficulty deciding often makes you anxious, you can explore our services to see how therapy helps you trust your choices more.