OCTOBER 28, 2022
Ralph Waldo Emerson once quoted; “Common Sense is as rare as genius.” Wikipedia defines common sense (often known as sense) as “Sound, practical judgment concerning everyday matters, or a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge in a manner that is shared by nearly all people. Common sense is the knowledge that all humans have. Such knowledge is unspoken and unwritten. We acquire it (or NOT) in our life’s experiences from the day we were born and often take it for granted. Common sense is important as it stops us making irrational mistakes and makes it easier to make choices on what we need to do. (The RIGHT thing!) We aren’t born with common sense. We develop it over time. If you don’t have any, why not start today?
Another word for common sense and something we share with our Foundational Band of Brothers group is “Wisdom.” Or, in other words, “The ability to reach intelligent conclusions.” Common sense suggests an average degree of such ability (your Elevator Guy has some pretty average intelligence) without sophistication or special knowledge. If you trust the scholars, many of them define common sense as; “Inborn rational thinking that happens naturally in rational human beings.” (Are you rational?) “Common sense incorporates problem solving and thinking skills developed from natural logic, intuition and the human capability to observe various events and absorb lessons and information from them.”
In reading the book of Proverbs, God gives us the treasure (something very valuable) of common sense to those who are honest. We have talked about integrity and the importance of good character by having an abundance of integrity. Integrity is a foundational pillar to wisdom. If you are not living with integrity in your life, you will never leave a lasting legacy to those you love and those that love you. In my studies of history, I have found that history often repeats itself. History has a way of bringing out the truth in a person’s life and isn’t kind to the person who did not deal honestly.
This all starts with being honest with yourself as to WHO you are and WHO you are becoming; the path you are currently on in your life; the people you are taking with you on that journey; and what you want your “end-game” to be in life. (This requires a lot of common sense and preparation) Think about those four difficult questions regardless of your season in life. Being self-aware of WHO you are can help guide you to making the necessary changes in your life that we all need. Some of us may not WANT to look at life this way. But, trying to be honest and accepting WHO you are, is important in living a life of purpose and meaning. (It will also reduce your stress levels) Remember; integrity serves as a shield. Once you start lying to yourself, it becomes easier to lie to others. God has a protection plan for those who are honest and faithful to HIM.
As we have pointed out in past remarks, intelligence is important in honing our ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. But WISDOM (which requires integrity) is the power we need to see the big picture in our lives. Our lives today are so full of choices that it is sometimes hard to know which choice to make. Don’t take the easiest choice or the one everyone else is taking. Be a critical thinker in using your God given talents, along with a huge dose of integrity, to give you enough common sense to make the right choice. Want to be successful in life? Forgive yourself (because you have already been forgiven) and live a life of integrity. Try our Elevator Guy method of; (CAVE) Commit; be accountable; be vulnerable; and encourage others by helping them find their own voice. (Covey’s 8th Habit)
Find and use your common sense in life. It will serve you well.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “Success is not a matter of mastering subtle, sophisticated theory but rather of embracing common sense with uncommon levels of discipline and persistence.” Patrick Lencioni