Method #2: Get More Serious than Ever (Until You Have a Good Laugh)

Deliberately turn a 3″ molehill into a 2000-foot mountain. Exaggerate a problem to new levels. Magnify it. Go to extremes!

Keep making the mountain bigger and bigger until it is so ridiculous that the problem explodes and stops being a problem for you.

EXAMPLES

You think to yourself, “I get too serious when people are sloppy, like that stack of folders over there. So how can I make this into a mountain?”

You then mentally yell to yourself, “THESE FOLDERS MUST BE STACKED EXACTLY LIKE THIS! COME ON PEOPLE. ACT LIKE ADULTS OKAY! THIS IS REDICULOUS.”

You laugh at yourself and take a little pleasure in straightening the stack of folders.

As another example, you think “Those guys offended me when they ignored me today. They need to treat me like the king I truly am! They need to bow down. They must kiss my feet. They must offer to sacrifice their lives so I can have more air to breath!”

The image of them kissing your feet is so funny you laugh out loud. You realize it does not matter if they notice you or like you. You enjoy not giving a darn.

As a final example you are frustrated with a computer problem. You make it into a bigger problem by swearing at your screen, deciding the software developers are big jerks and banging your desk until you hurt yourself. You laugh at yourself, search the help pages and learn how to use the program correctly.

Add an Action Step

Which serious problem can you make into a mountain?