Are You an Idea Addict?

When inspiration morphs into unhealthy obsession

Photo by Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash

There are lots of things in this world people get addicted to: alcohol, nicotine, heroin, sex, and i-Phones. But perhaps the biggest addiction of them all is the addiction to our own ideas.

Here’s how it works:

We think of a possibility that moves us. We feel a buzz and can’t stop thinking about it. We tweak it, we name it, we pitch it, and POOF, the addiction begins.

At first, like most habits, it’s a casual pursuit with a thousand positive side effects: increased energy, renewed focus, and a general feeling of well-being. But then… we think about it in the shower. We think about it in the car. We think about it when people are asking us to think about other things. We even dream about it.

This, of course, can often be a healthy side-effect of genuine inspiration.

But soon we want everyone to know about it. We want them to feel the buzz. We want them to nod in agreement. We want them to recognize just how pure our fixation is.