From motivational speakers, hope-core videos and 30-day plans to affirmations – there are a million ways to reach your goals. According to writer Malcolm Gradwell, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master something. Learning a new language can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to become fluent.
Reaching any of these goals requires hard work, dedication and, I will add, obsession. The kind of obsession that keeps you up at night, makes you cancel plans, and tell everyone you know about your passions.
Obsession often gets a bad rap; it’s normally portrayed as extreme, unhealthy, and unnecessary. But, when used correctly, obsession is a useful tool on the path to success. It encourages passion and allows us to fully commit to achieving our goals.
Limitless Motivation
When you’re obsessed, motivation isn’t something you need to find; it’s there. Think about the last thing you were obsessed with. A catchy song, a comfort movie, reading a good book. When you’re obsessed with something, it is harder to stop doing it than it is to start. It is harder to put a good book down than it is to pick it up. Obsessed people don’t need morning affirmations or bullet journals to stay on track - the drive comes from within. If we applied this obsession to getting better grades, learning a new instrument, or writing a novel, these goals would quickly be achieved.
The Power of Tunnel Vision
Tunnel vision might sound bad if you’re driving a car, but it’s great if you’re chasing a dream. Being obsessed means that you have tunnel vision, which enables you to filter out distractions and focus solely on the task at hand. TikTok doom scrolling? Doesn’t matter. The new season of Bridgerton? Not today. Instead, you’re so locked in that nothing can pull you away. This level of focus is extremely rare in this era of distraction, despite being the secret ingredient behind many success stories.
Domenico del Frate, Michelangelo in His Studio, Visited by Pope Julius II (1841).
Good Things Take Time
There is a reason it takes 10,000 hours to master something- good things take time. But obsession allows these hours to pass by without you noticing. Whilst others might see practice as a chore, an obsessed person sees it as the best part of their day. Whether it's working until 3 AM, writing for hours on end, or losing track of time while playing tennis, obsession helps you pass the time and accumulate the experience necessary to reach your goals.
Burnout?
The idea that obsession leads to burnout is a common misconception. It’s possible to overwork yourself, but obsession isn’t just about working hard. It’s about loving the work you’re doing so much that you don’t want to stop. When you’re truly obsessed, your passion sustains you. You’ll have tough days, but instead of quitting, you’ll find ways to recharge because you’re driven by something bigger than just "getting by."
Let’s stop pretending that obsession is something to be feared. It’s a useful stepping stone on the path to success. Lean into your obsession (healthily, of course). Embrace the late-night brainstorming, the constant pursuit of obsession, and the unrelenting passion for your goals.
Ultimately, success isn’t just about working hard – it’s about being so deeply committed that success becomes the only possible outcome, or in other words, it’s about being obsessed.
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