Use Your Common Sense Day on Nov 4 urges people to trust own judgment in digital age

Life has become much easier in today's fast, technology-driven age, but the ability to make decisions is getting muddled. For matters big and small, people increasingly depend on digital platforms, the opinions of others or the influence of social media. Because of this lifestyle, the basic power of thinking that every person has, common sense, is being left behind.

To fill this gap and make people aware of their inner discernment, 'Use Your Common Sense Day' is observed on November 4 every year. The day teaches the lesson of practical wisdom in life, going beyond bookish knowledge.

Common sense is not something that can be bought from a shop or learnt through tuition. It is a priceless gift every person receives from nature. The ability to set technical complexities aside and take the right decision by a straight, simple route in any situation is what is called common sense.

Today, even educated and smart people often become emotional over small matters or take wrong decisions under pressure from others. If one pauses to think and takes a practical view, many big questions can be resolved easily. The day is a reminder that in times of trouble, using one's own mind proves far more effective than bookish degrees.

In this age of mobile phones, social media and artificial intelligence (AI), people have a treasure trove of information at their fingertips. But in this flood of information, their own power to decide has weakened. To judge whether a news item is true or false, or how to handle a situation, people now turn to algorithms or the advice of others. This habit of following blindly is eroding self-reliance. When we depend on technology or other people's opinions for everything, the chances of making mistakes multiply. 'Use Your Common Sense Day' inspires us to step out of this mechanical world and trust our own judgment.

For success in every area of life, presence of mind in the moment is essential alongside bookish knowledge. Whether it is office work, a quarrel at home or a financial decision, if we act with a cool head and practical thinking, the chance of failure is greatly reduced. Using common sense raises a person's self-confidence. When someone succeeds by deciding with their own judgment, a different kind of positive energy and sense of responsibility develops in them.

The day teaches that solutions to life's hardest problems often lie in the simplest thinking. All that is needed is to trust oneself and move in that direction. The habit of deciding thoughtfully in small matters can later save a person from big troubles. Every person should therefore reflect today on how many times they decided by their own judgment and how many times they came under the influence of others.