July 26, 2010

Does your mind ever go ’round and ’round like it’s on some infernal hamster wheel? Mine does–and I waste so much time I could be writing. 

I try to stop because I assumed obsessing was a negative thing. It doesn’t have to be, though, not according to Eric Maisel in Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions. Maisel is a psychotherapist who works with writers and artists, and author of another most helpful book, Fearless Creating.

The Life of Obsessing

First, does the writer below sound like you? (Frankly, Maisel could have been eavesdropping on my brain waves and transcribed my thoughts!) This is what one of his writer clients shared.

“I have always wanted to make a living as a writer. But I always let things hold me back. I let having a day job sidetrack me; I let fear sidetrack me. I procrastinate wildly; and yet the less I write, the unhappier I become with everything. I can’t let go of the desire to write, but I need to let go of the unproductive obsessing I do  about writing–the worry about not being good enough, the worry that I won’t be able to make a living, the worry that I won’t be able to think of anything wonderful to write about.”

And the result of all her obsessing?

“I get more and more stressed out, and I write less and less, and it becomes a particularly nasty downward spiral.”

Surprising Goal!

The author’s book isn’t about stopping the obsessions. In fact, Maisel encourages them! His idea is about harnessing all that brain power you’re using in a negative way and turning it into a positive brainstorm of ideas.

A productive obsession is an idea that you choose for good reasons and pursue with all your brain’s power. It might be an idea for a novel or the solution to a personal problem.

According to Maisel, the super focused productive obsession is the mind-set of the creative person. It sounds wonderful to me! I’ll be writing some more about this throughout the week, I think.

Tell Me I’m Not Alone

Do you have trouble focusing that prevents you from getting in the flow of your writing? Do you ever have the above-mentioned “hamster wheel-itis”? I sure hope I’m not the only one! Maybe we can find an answer to it together!

9 Comments »

1. 

   Kristi- I can definitely relate to having some of those thoughts, and it only makes it harder and harder to write. Glad to know that I’m not alone!

   Comment by Emily — July 26, 2010 @ 6:59 am

2. 

   I am definitely running on the hamster wheel right along with you, Kristi! I look forward to reading more of your posts on this book. Somehow, I never thought of a connection between obsession and creativity. Very interesting indeed.

   Karin Larson
   http://www.karin-larson.blogspot.com

   Comment by Karin Larson — July 26, 2010 @ 7:31 am

3. 

   I could have written that quote that his client shared!! I hope you do write more about it this week because I’ll be curious as to how you turn obsessing into something productive.

   Comment by Julie Hedlund — July 26, 2010 @ 10:45 am

4. 

   Emily, you’re DEFINITELY not alone!

   Karin, maybe we could buy tandem hamster wheels. Then we could take turns spinning the wheel while the other one writes!

   Julie, I will definitely share more. The author is a bit new agey for me in some of his other books, but this one is practical (so far) and really strikes chord after chord. Here’s to growth and understanding this week!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 26, 2010 @ 3:06 pm

5. 

   I like what he says about unproductive obsessing! I tend to obsess about the people I live with or work with, having stupid imaginary conversations that never take place. Instead, I could be having great conversations with my characters!
   I’m going to give his 30 days of productive obsession a try – I have a feeling it will produce something unusual and exciting for me!

   Comment by Sherryl — July 27, 2010 @ 4:18 am

6. 

   I’ve been spinning on my hamster wheel so long, that I am paralyzed with fear of starting any writing at all. Not being good enough is the repeating echo that keeps me from writing or I start but don’t finish. I look forward to reading more about turning something negative into a positive. Maria

   Comment by Maria — July 27, 2010 @ 6:29 am

7. 

   Sherryl, you’ve hit the nail on the head here. We ALL know how to obsess about things and people. The trick is turning that brain power to something positive about our work. Were you quoted in his book? I know you were part of his online experimental group as research for the book.

   Maria, paralysis is certainly one of the results of the negatively spinning hamster wheel! You might also like Maisel’s book WRITE MIND. And stay tuned!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 27, 2010 @ 6:40 am

8. 

   Maria, I suffer from the same fear – I might encourage you to find a good positive writing group. Positive encouragment is the best medacine to help me keep going. Good Luck!

   Comment by Andrea — July 27, 2010 @ 6:47 pm

9. 

   Andrea, what a wise piece of advice. (Emphasis on “good POSITIVE writing group.”) I don’t know what I’d do without my writer friends who encourage me along. Even if you partner up with just one good encouraging friend, you can break out of this. Thanks for your comment, Andrea!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 29, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

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