Keep Things Simple: The Best Way To Be Honest With Yourself

Photo by Letizia Bordoni on Unsplash

I assume you have heard of a ‘Occam’s Razor’, but if you haven’t then you might have heard it’s quote: “The simplest solution is most likely the right one.”

Now, this wasn’t the original quote. William of Ockham, philosopher and theologian, stated that “Entities should not be multiplied without necessity”, which today paraphrases as “The simplest solution is most likely the right one.”

Throughout the years various quotes have been derived from this quote that all state the same, basic thing:

If you need long to explain something, you either do not understand it fully or it is not the truth.

You can often apply this idea when identifying lies or the right answer on a multiple choice question, but also when you talk to yourself.

Let’s use an example: Are you happy?

Please answer this question with a clear and cut ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Now elaborate as to why you are either happy or are not happy.

Try to keep your answer to a few, generalized sentences and write them down.

The question now is: Do those sentences change anything about your original ‘Yes’ or ‘No’?