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Self-Awareness | Personal Growth
8 Ways to Gain More Common Sense
Beyond the obvious: The path to practical wisdom
In a world drowning in information, common sense is our compass. Samuel Taylor Coleridge described it as “wisdom in its simplest form,” yet it remains surprisingly rare. Why?
What is common sense?
Imagine effortlessly navigating life’s challenges with clarity and practicality. More than 250 years ago, Voltaire noted, “Common sense is not so common,” a sentiment echoed in such publications as Psychology Today.
The term “common sense” is thrown around quite a bit today, but what does it mean? “Common” means ordinary, normal, routine, regular, usual, and familiar, while “sense” denotes practical judgment. Oxford Languages defines it as “good sense and sound judgment in practical matters.” To deepen your understanding, consider its antonyms: inability, impracticality, ineptness, unreasonableness, and foolishness — qualities we strive to avoid.
Ever heard someone described as “not having enough sense to come in out of the rain” or labeled as “an educated fool”? These expressions highlight individuals lacking common sense. Education alone doesn’t guarantee it, as Victor Hugo aptly noted: “Common sense is in spite of, not as the result of education.”
Why is “common sense” often cited negatively? Many of us know our thoughts skew towards negativity, possibly influencing how we perceive everyday wisdom. Is its scarcity real or merely a matter of perception? As Psychology Today suggests, 80% of our thoughts are negative, and 95% of them are repetitive from the prior day.
On the positive side, being praised for having common sense is a compliment. It acknowledges the ability to make sound judgments in practical situations, which is a trait worth cultivating.
Eight ways to enhance common sense
How can you develop more “common sense”? Following are eight practical ways to build it.
- Gain experience: Common sense evolves from life’s trials and errors, not formal education. Embrace challenges, learn from failures, and persist until success shapes your practical…
