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In a world in which we are increasingly wary of quick dopamine "hits" that frequently lead to feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness & dissatisfaction, it has become unclear how one could or should relate to joyful obsessions that reflect a fuller expression of the self, that could hold great personal meaning.  Author, Tabitha Carvan, joins us for a discussion of her new book "This Book is Not About Benedict Cumberbatch" in which she explores the notion of a joyful obsession and the value that it can bring to one's life. 

Host note:  My hope is that we made this pretty clear in the conversation; however, just so there is no ambiguity - in this conversation we are discussing joyful obsessions that lead to an enhanced sense of self, meaning & well-being - this, of course, would be in contrast to an addiction in which there is an erosion in one's self of self, functioning & psychological well-being.  With that out of the way, enjoy the episode!   

In this conversation we cover:

• the core concept of the book and why it is, in fact, really not about Benedict Cumberbatch
• the vulnerability that Tabitha felt in writing this book and why she feels this vulnerability was ultimately critical to having the book translate to, and resonate with readers
• the reception the book has received so far and whether Benedict Cumberbatch has heard of and/or seen the book
• the potential psychological function, role & utility of joyful obsession & fantasy in one's life
• Tabitha's reflection on the function of her joyful obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch and why it presented itself to her at the time in her life that it did
• an in-depth consideration of the way in which women's joyful obsessions/passions are denigrated & trivialized  in a way that men's are not
• the very specific overlay of motherhood in the context of women's joyful obsessions/passions
• examples of women highlighted in the book who were able to engage in meaningful, life-affirming change by leveraging the energy & perspective drawn from a joyful obsession
• a discussion of the health of the average individual's fantasy life and what might be getting left on the table for those not engaging in this important exploration of the self
• do's & don'ts for exploring the integrating of a joyful obsession into one's life

Comments or feedback?  Email the show: [email protected].  Enjoying the content and/or finding it is adding value to your life or practice?  A rating (or even a review) on Apple podcasts would be greatly appreciated!

Tabitha Carvan has written for publications such as The New York Post, Australian Geographic, Overland, Offbeat Home, The Outline, AsiaLIFE, and MamaMia, focusing on issues of identity, family, and pop culture. This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch is her first book.

http://www.tabithacarvan.com
@tabithacarvan