Common Sense

Common sense is the knowledge that all humans have, yet so often, common sense is something that is taken for granted.

The ability to simply have good sense and sound judgement in practical matters cannot be overlooked as an area for both personal development and success.

Such knowledge is unspoken and unwritten, we take it for granted. We all acquire it imperceptibly; from the world around us from the day we are born. It means that we all have knowledge and do or would do something in a particular way, the way most people would do it. As a result the knowledge, activity and actions are viewed as common.

As it is acquired from the world around us your common sense is shaped by that world. There are numerous examples of Hollywood films with “fish out of water experience” based comedy to support this.

This basic awareness and ability to judge, such as a square peg and a round hole, is something that most people are expected to share naturally, even if they cannot explain why.

Ask yourself. Do you take what people tell you at face value? Do you follow people blindly? Did you have that moment with one of your parents when you were making an excuse for your actions with “they told me to do it!” only to be greeted with something along the lines of “would you put your hand in the fire or jump off a cliff, if they told you too?!”

Therefore the broader view and greater observation you have of the world you have, the greater you will develop your common sense.

When looking at common sense it is however important not to lose sight of differentiation, pushing boundaries and that you do not however settle for just following the herd and maintaining the status quo. You need to establish if you would do things differently in a bid to improve them. Apple once ran an advert entitled “The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do”

Don’t forget, the person who didn’t have the sense to come in out of the rain, at some point had the ability to invent the umbrella!

Action:

Take some time to sit and observe the world around you and how people do things, asking yourself how much you know that you just take for granted.

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