Have you ever thought about something so damn much that it consumed your whole being?
Cooking up all kinds of mental scenarios. Overthinking day and night.
It’s very common with introverts.
It doesn’t let you sleep, eat, or do anything else.
What if you could use that same emotional energy productively? Pour all that mental power into creating something.
Talent is one thing, but obsession is a whole different animal.
People see obsession as a disease.
And if it’s a disease, then all the great artists had it.
Obsession becomes dangerous when you can’t handle it. When it starts taking over your life.
But if you use it in the right direction, it’s nothing less than a superpower.
All introverts have it.
Obsession = Success
Today I’ll teach you how to use obsession in a healthy way to create your dream life.
Step 1: Figure out what You’re Obsessed with
To be honest, this is the hardest step.
When we’re young, we’re obsessed with a lot of things.
Especially introverts can have a number of interests and hobbies.
We’re constantly learning from people and our environment.
But there’s always this one thing that leaves a deep impact on our minds.
It just feels right in your heart. For me, it was writing.
Another big sign is that it will feel very natural to you.
The question you need to ask yourself is: What speaks to your soul?
It doesn’t matter whether it’s popular or not.
What matters is that it should be something that puts you in a state of flow.
A state where time stops. You forget yourself in what you’re doing.
In his book, ‘FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience’ , Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi gives us this graph:
It’s something that’s challenging but also falls under your skill set.
Something between anxiety and boredom.
Step 2: Overcoming Resistance
Resistance is the fear that makes you think… what if I fail?
This fear is very real. Very human. And it’s okay to feel that way.
It’s the survival mechanism wired in our brains to keep us in familiar territory.
Like in my book ‘Born to Stand Out’, I’ve shared an example of Alex Hannold.
When Alex Hannold decided to climb El Capitan free solo (without any safety gear), his mind was full of fear.
The stakes were not just high, but they were fixed. Either he climbs it or he’s dead. There was nothing in-between.
But he managed to overcome his fear.
Now there are two reasons that can create this resistance inside us:
1. Internal: Through our own negative thoughts and feelings
2. External: Through the opinions and projected fears of other people.
The way to overcome these two is to bring awareness into your life.
To see things for what they are, not through the lens of our own feelings or opinions of other people.
Align yourself with that inner voice. Because only that voice knows the truth.
And once you tune out everything else and start listening to that voice, the resistance will disappear.
Step 3: Controlled Obsession
Once you’ve figured out your obsession and have overcome resistance, it’s time for action.
Now, it’s time to dive into rabbit holes. Go into obsessive mode.
But controlled.
For example, when I was researching for my book, there were days when I sat at my desk for 4 to 5 hours nonstop.
And I hurt my back. Now that’s unhealthy.
When you’re in obsession mode, you’ll have access to limitless energy.
Because you’re in a state that lies between anxiety and boredom. And if you’re not feeling any of those, you’re not going to stop.
I have no idea where it comes from, but in those states, our bodies are able to tap into some powerful source. Like your phone is connected to wifi.
But if we don’t know how to control it, it can do a lot of damage, both mentally and physically.
Like Friedrich Nietzsche or Vincent van Gogh. Both were geniuses without a doubt, but their obsession drove them into madness.
To control my obsession, I made sure to take a small break every 2 hours.
I went for a small walk or played some music.
This allows the brain to rest and helps you recover from the mental fatigue that can lead to overthinking.
And it helps you create something that has no match.
Conclusion
It all sounds so simple, no?
You may even already know everything I’ve explained above.
But still, you may find it difficult to follow it.
It’s not your fault.
The truth is… it’s really that simple.
But we are surrounded by so much stimulation, ideas, and opinions that our mind finds it impossible to believe that things can be that simple.
But when you detach yourself from all the mental garbage and connect with your inner voice, you’ll realize that’s the only way it’s supposed to work.
Calm your mind and think about it in silence; you’ll get it.
Your obsession can beat talent. Any day.
Stay blessed,
Master