How to Use Ockham's Razor

I want you to use Ockham’s razor this week
to have more fun. Ockham’s razor is the
belief that the best theory is usually the
simplest one and it is a guiding principal
in modern science. We refer to Ockham’s
belief as a “razor” because we can use his
idea to slice away complex and unnecessary
facets of an argument.

But more about Mr. Ockham later…

This week a loyal reader wrote me. “Is fun
ever stressful? As in, say, going on a
vacation?”

My answer? “Yes, ‘fun’ is sometimes
stressful. However, fun (actual fun) is
never stressful. So, when you get stressed
you’re really having ‘fun’, not fun.”

“Fun” is contrived, false, and stressful. So
what’s the difference between “fun” and
fun? You already know the answer: your
attitude.

The truth is that anything carries the
potential to fill you with stress. It all
depends on your attitude. Even Disneyland,
the most magical and fun place on earth, can
be very stressful – if you focus on the long
lines, the high food prices, the whining
children, etc.

Forget about things you already see as
stressful (doing your taxes, appearing in
court, operating an IPOD, etc.), when was
the last time you turned something that was
supposed to be fun into something
stressful? We all do it. We’re all guilty
of having ‘fun’.

But there is good news.

If you’re capable of turning fun into “fun”
(real fun into a stressful experience),
guess what? The opposite is also true. You’re
capable of turning “fun” into fun (a
stressful experience into real fun).

Sound crazy? Hear me out. And reap the
benefits.

Your attitude can take mundane, or
unwelcome, tasks and turn them into games…or
at least turn them into activities that
don’t stress you out so much. As I teach
you to do in my book, The Fun Factor, you
can use humor tools to distract your
stressful mind and find yourself smiling
while you wait in line at the Department of
Motor Vehicles!

It really is simple and, with a little
practice, you’ll notice that you now have a
choice about whether you want to be stressed
out or relaxed. And it’s not about laughing
or telling jokes (not everyone can be
funny), it’s all about being light and
taking yourself less seriously - which is an
internal decision YOU can make, no matter
how “unfunny” you think you are!

William of Ockham, by the way, was an
English philosopher from the 13th Century
who valued simplicity during an era when
puzzling natural phenomena were often
explained by exotic theories of demons or
other unprovable notions. Ockham was
convinced that reason must rely on
observable facts and experience.

So use Ockham’s razor this week to slice
away your personal “demons” and the other
complications in your mind. Let yourself be
light…and you’ll see the light! I promise.

Your Attention Please!

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Cliff Kuhn, M.D.
The Laugh Doctor
7406 Wesboro Road
Louisville, KY 40242
"It all starts with a SMILE"