Healthy Obsessions: A Bridge Not Too Far

Obsessions. Some of the greatest accomplishments in our society are the result of an obsession to create something exceptional. Great art. An extraordinary symphony. Miracle drugs. Magnificent architecture. Brilliant literature. Stunning fashion. Gorgeous gardens. A precisely crafted manned spaceship to Mars. An obsession can lead to amazing results and positive change. 

That’s the focus of a piece in a Harper’s Bazaar article (Oct 1, 2025) which considers healthy obsessions. Titled, “31 Things We’re Obsessed With Right Now,” it states that the fashion world would not exist without obsession. Take, for example, the attention, care, and precision Hermès devotes to the creation of a single Birkin bag. Each bag is made by one single craftsperson who has trained for 18 months, and it takes 15 to 20 hours to make each bag. The famed saddle stitch, which has been used since the company’s founding, must stand at a 45-degree angle. Zooming farther out, considering the sourcing and cutting of the leather, each bag takes about two years to create.”

Of course, we don’t know in most cases how the obsession took over the creator’s life, if it did. Or was the person able to keep the obsession within control so it didn’t take over other parts of their life? Could they still maintain relationships, eat and sleep well, balance their budget and so on?

Pursuing a passion with great dedication involves increasing levels of interest, time, effort, financial investment, and energy. However, maintaining balance is essential so that this pursuit continues to bring significant fulfilment without becoming a dominant or controlling force in one's life.

In the category of healthy obsession, we might put a passion for learning about a particular topic or person (reading all the bios or autobiographies of U.S. Presidents), regular exercising (weekly or even daily meditation, Pilates, yoga, golf or tennis), taking time to journal, painting, playing an instrument, designing jewelry, volunteering to help others, collecting baseball cards or old cameras, eating healthfully and maybe watching carbs and sugar, walking in nature but not aiming for a set number of steps, being financially prudent but not worrying but each minor downturn in the market or bank balance, cultivating and nurturing relationships by calling or texting often and remembering special milestones. All these may lead to personal growth, collaborations, friendships, new opportunities and a sense of fulfillment.

We find something we’re obsessed about, set a goal, and go for it. When it doesn’t impinge on our lives, time with a partner, kids, grandkids, friends, taking care of ourselves and all other thoughts in our brain, it remains a healthy obsession.

We can regularly engage in it, but also can shift gears and move on to something else. We may even laugh about it—how we need just one more snow globe or Christmas ornament—but we also know it’s not affecting us adversely.

Yet, an obsession can also become unhealthy when it takes excessive charge, becomes such a focus that it’s morphed into a compulsion, whether through repetitive actions or thoughts, much like an itch that requires constant scratching. It may begin to disrupt sleep, eating, relationships and finances.

Maybe, the compulsion is constant hand washing, fear about germs spreading, checking movements repeatedly such as whether you turned off the oven or light or closed a door, cleaned enough so all is broom clean and spotless or a control overeating so that it results in an eating disorder. Maybe, it’s an inability not to buy just one paperweight, fountain pen, antique watch.

If you sense that you have an unhealthy obsession, here are a few strategies that may help ease it:

·      Accepting that you have an obsession.

·      Talking to yourself to curb your impulses.

·      Identifying the distortions and overthinking.

·      Replacing this with more balanced reasoning.

·      Shifting gears when the obsession kicks in to something healthy, like a walk, nine holes of golf, a movie or a good book.

·      Avoiding triggers such as certain activities and people.

·      Meditating. Deep breathing. Yoga.

·      Trying healthy activities that require your total focus—exercise in moderation, hobbies, and socializing.

·      Setting boundaries--limiting the amount of time you spend on an obsession, then shifting your focus. Finish that jigsaw puzzle another day rather than in one-fell swoop; same goes for a TV series, forget binging and spread episodes out like great chocolate.

·      Discussing an obsession with friends or family.

·      Talking to a therapist to help you develop coping skills.

·      Trying cognitive-behavior therapy.

·      Taking medication to tamp down the urges.

Unhealthy obsessions can take over your life and result in a significant loss of time and potentially money if spent on negative pursuits such as drugs, alcohol and gambling with an obsessive desire to win. We all know that is a losing proposition.

However, a healthy obsession may result in your next fabulous pair of shoes, a best-selling novel, a drug to cure Alzheimer’s or several neurological and mental conditions, a new perfume, a museum-worthy sculpture or the next generation of technology. Now that’s a win.