The Beautiful, Brutal Nature of Obsession

I’ve been thinking a lot about obsession lately.

Not the watered-down kind people joke about in coffee mugs and Pinterest quotes. I’m talking about the kind that grips your spine, hijacks your brain, and doesn’t ask for permission.

The kind that whispers, “If you don’t finish this, you’re nothing.”

Obsession has been both a gift and a curse in my life. It’s helped me build things. It’s helped me write, ship, tweak, rebuild, repeat. It’s what gets me through long nights when I’m coding, writing, planning, while the world sleeps and I’m still on.

Some of it is neurodivergence. My brain latches on to things and doesn’t let go. The pattern-seeking. The rabbit holes. The thrill of connecting dots no one else sees.

But some of it is fear.

I’m 56. I have a vision of being financially independent by 60. Not because I want luxury, but because I want peace. Because I’ve lost too many years to mental illness and survival mode. Because I want to build something that matters, and I want time to enjoy it.

And so the obsession creeps in.

Build faster. Learn more. Write another post. Launch the next feature. Tweak the landing page. Record the voice note. Sleep later. Breathe when it’s done.

Only... it’s never done, is it?

Obsession can power you, but it can also drain you. It sharpens your focus—but it blurs the edges of everything else.

Here’s what I’m learning:

• Obsession isn’t the enemy. But it needs boundaries.

• It’s okay to care deeply. But not if it comes at the cost of your health or peace.

• Sometimes your greatest work comes from the quiet moments, not the manic ones.

If you’re obsessed with something right now—a project, a goal, a version of your future—I see you. I get it. Just make sure you’re still you inside it. Not a machine. Not a ghost.

Let your obsession build something beautiful. But don’t let it burn you out before it’s born.

What are you obsessed with right now? Hit reply and tell me. I’d love to hear what’s got a hold of your heart.

Until next time,
Jason