Occam's Razor

Is the principle that you should start with the simplest most direct theory, one that makes the fewest assumptions when you are looking for the answer to that  burning question you have.  Simplest explanations or theories usually carry more weight.  When there are fewer assumptions there are fewer things to disprove.

William of Ockham (his given name was Willaim and he was born in Ockham England) was a 14th century friar who got into trouble with the Catholic church over his writings.   He was a Franciscan Friar who was booted from the Church for his writings and lived in exile as the leader of exiled Franciscan Friars until he died as a result of the black plaque of the 14th Century.  He wrote about a lot of things that never did see the light of day.  No one is sure how Ockham got changed to Occam and the "razor" was not something he came up with.  It attached to Occam centuries later when it was used to describe the shaving away of unnecessary assumptions. 

We all attach more complexity and assumptions to the questions that are most important to us.  Very recently I heard my mom ask the question why me question?  Why did she she have heart attacks, bad overall health, and an overload of stress?  The answer here is as simple as can be.  With a family history of heart problems and diabetes and in the absence of any meaningful medical checkups, stress management, or proactive desire to manage her health, the logical thing happened.    It really is not more complex than that, it does not require additional complex theories or assumptions - Occam's razor.  She has been driving the hell out of the same car for 71 years and failed to ever get  it a tuned up/checked/routine maintenance and at some point even stopped adding oil.  It is not hard to see why it broke.

Take a look at the things that have to be answered in your life.  There are jobs, people, and places in your life that did not work out as you expected them to.  Answer the question of why as simply as you can and you will find that simple answer surprisingly complete and comprehensive.

If you have a job or a person in your life that does not fit, you can certainly make them fit.  It is like putting on a shirt that is 2 sizes too small, you can get it on but it is going to feel and look like hell and most importantly you don't fool anyone...even yourself.   Don't do that...find the ones that fit and make you feel good.  When you feel good, that feeling infects everyone around you in the coolest way possible. 

Love Dad