Common sense is not common because it’s “abundant”. It’s quite “ordinary” and within our reach. But its ubiquity is hindered by our reluctance to access it. Or more accurately perhaps, by our tendency to circumvent it, especially when it comes to stimuli that triggers spontaneous thoughts or feelings in us. I’m not referring just to the so-called “negative” emotions like anger or anxiety. What we might describe as “good” or “pleasurable” emotions like “joy” or “pride” also can and often do make us act without further consideration. Though this reactionary stance may not usually cause much of a problem, if it becomes a habit or way of life, it can make us do or say things we regret later, keep making the same mistakes, or even play into the hands of unsavoury characters. At the most basic level, it reduces us to primal creatures that act purely on instinct. It’s also an unnecessary blight on our mental tranquility, and an unsettled mind cannot perform at its best. Many of us also perpetually assume the that we are the “victim” in an offending event or habitually fly into a rage without taking the effort to discover what exactly happened. As we learn to be more “mindful” and less “reactionary” though, we train ourselves to think more cohesively and comprehensively about what’s causing us the distress and how we are reacting or how we wish to react to it. Put very simply, mindfulness is the practice of accessing our “common sense” before reacting to any thought, emotion or external trigger. On a computer, it’s the pop-up message that asks “Are You Sure You Want to Continue to This Unverified Site?” With heightened awareness, keener observation, and the will to see things “as they really are”, we become more present to the reality of life and less susceptible to the fabrications of imagination, conjecture or collective bias. When we are not girdled by labels, judgement or bias, we see people and situations with more balanced and holistic eyes. We can then devise courses that may be more beneficial and compassionate for all, for most, or even just for ourselves! Why not?
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 05:39:54 +0000