How to Stay Cool Without Your Air Conditioning

By Cliff Kuhn, M.D.
The Laugh Doctor
"It all starts with a SMILE"

As the summer hits mid-season and our air conditioning units
pump non-stop, I got unusual news from a friend. In Kentucky,
you see, temperatures have been soaring - the heat index has
regularly been at, or over, one hundred degrees. And my friend
recently told me he hasn't turned on his air conditioning!

His children, it turns out, are visiting out-of-state family
from mid-June through early August. So he turns off his air
conditioning when they're gone. His kids did the same thing
last summer and he also kept the air off then.

You might think, why would someone suffer like that? Listen to
his interesting response and then I'll relate it to a lesson we
can all use.

My friend tells me that last summer he turned off his air
conditioning to save money while his children were gone. He
lives in a four bedroom house and just couldn't pass up the
opportunity to pocket some cash that would've normally gone to
his utility provider. He said he saved a ton of money, but he
was mostly miserably hot all summer.

Miserably hot enough that he decided, this summer, he would keep
the air conditioning on. He has a good job; he declared that he
was worth cooling off. But, as the summer started to heat up in
June, he had a different thought: he wasn't comfortable using so
much electricity to cool a big house where only one person was
living. And, to top it off, since he works all day, no one was
even in the house fifty percent of time.

So he turned off his air conditioning again. Only this time, he
reports, he's been very comfortable. Even though this summer
has been much hotter than last, my friend has been happy without
his air.

The difference? After our conversation we both agreed that last
summer my friend was motivated by fear - he wanted to avoid
something unwanted (in this case, paying his utility bill). This
summer, however, my friend is motivated by fun - he wants
to attain something rather than avoid something (in this case,
conserving precious resources).

Last summer my friend was running away from something (paying
his utility bills) and this summer my friend is running toward
something (conservation of energy).

And his experience is similar to what I always find. We all
have two choices for motivation: fear and fun. Both work - my
friend was able to keep his air conditioning off last summer,
just as he has this summer. And he has saved money this summer,
just like last.

Only last summer my friend was miserable, while this summer he's
been comfortable.

That's because fear as motivation almost always proves very
unsatisfying. Because your goal became a magic solution which
would fix you when attained (and make the thing you're scared of
disappear). That never works; while you may reach your goal
with fear as your motivation, you will most likely not be happy
when you get there.

Because, even if you reach your goal, you find that you're still
not fixed. You may have achieved your goal , but you still have
the fear. And the thing you wanted to make disappear is still
there too.

This week I encourage you to examine your motivations. Have you
been experiencing any frustrations lately? It might just be
that you have inadvertently been motivating yourself with fear. It's
easy to slip into such motivation because, if you're like
most people, there are many things in your life you wish to
avoid or run away from.

Switching to fun as your motivation is simple. You can keep
your same goals; simply switch your focus to the things you
desire, rather than the things you want to avoid. You'll be
more successful, you'll find success faster, and you'll enjoy
yourself much more in the process!

Even if, like me, you decide to keep your air conditioning on
this summer.

Your Attention Please!

Become a happiness machine today!

Announcing Dr. Kuhn’s newest book, “It All Starts with a SMILE!” This
is his greatest work yet! Packed with 52 Smile Strategies
(one for every week of the year) guaranteed to send
your health and success over the top. Go to http://www.natural-
humor-medicine.com/new-book.html to get a peek at the beautiful
book.

Read Our Featured Article

A smile is hardly ever inappropriate and always completely under
your control. For these reasons, a grin is your number one
resource to quickly capture the full benefits of humor's natural
medicine each day. Put a wide smirk on your face right now and
feel how good even a "fake" smile feels!

Your FREE Gifts!

Click Here to Get Your Free Gifts!

Some Humor to Help You Smile

Steven Wright

"I never know what to get my father for his birthday. I gave
him one hundred dollars and said, 'Buy yourself something that
will make your life easier.' So he bought a present for my
mother."

Rita Rudner

Please - do your friends a favor! Send them
this newsletter or tell them to sign up for it
themselves by going to "http://www.natural-
humor-medicine.com/Fun_times.html" Let's
spread the happiness virus together!

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