Have you heard about Occam's Razor? Maybe some of you already use it in your daily lives without realizing it. If you haven’t, it’s this really interesting idea that says: “The simplest explanation is usually the right one.” It’s like having a personal reminder to not overcomplicate things.
I just came across it today while surfing the web, and it got me thinking about how I could apply it to my own life. For example, why didn’t Lisa reply to my message even though she read it?
Before knowing about Occam's Razor: I’d think things like, “Is she okay? I hope nothing bad happened! Or maybe she’s busy hanging out with her boyfriend?”
After learning about it:Now my thought process is more like, “Maybe her teacher gave her extra assignments because of the chaos she caused in class. She’s probably just stressed.”
It’s so much clearer when you don’t let your mind wander to the most dramatic conclusions.
When you start using Occam’s Razor in daily life, it makes decisions and problems way less stressful. Let’s say you’re dealing with a tough situation. By asking yourself, “What’s the simplest explanation or solution?” you can clear away all the unnecessary overthinking. It’s a great way to focus on what really matters without getting lost in endless “what ifs.”
Occam’s Razor doesn’t mean ignoring complicated situations entirely, but it does encourage you to approach things with more clarity. It’s helped me stop overthinking so much and focus on more practical, straightforward solutions.
Do you ever use Occam’s Razor in your life? Or do you feel like you could benefit from it? I’ve started noticing that it helps me a lot, especially with situations that could easily turn into overthinking spirals.
Would love to hear your thoughts—has this idea ever worked for you?