Uncommon Sense: Reclaiming Humanity

It seems today that common sense has become uncommon, and many people are increasingly disturbed by the direction we are taking in the living of our lives. Simple has been replaced by complex. Contentment with ‘what is’ has been replaced by ‘always wanting more’. Acceptance of the ordinary has been replaced by desire and demand for the extraordinary. Where once being reasonable was normal, it now seems that being unreasonable is to be accepted.

The author – following a long career in psychotherapy, counselling, group dynamics, restorative justice, spiritual direction and clinical supervision – goes to the heart of the search for a meaningful life; finding fulfilment and happiness through values and approaches that are positively life-giving for ourselves, our fellow humans, and the life of our planet.

His concern is the question of life’s meaning that all of us need to ask: What’s it all about? Who am I? What am I worth? How did the world get in such a mess? What causes hate, wars, oppression and wholesale destruction? What can we do about it? How do I become comfortable with the mystery and wonder of life?

Along the way, he challenges what he calls the delusion that our thinking is our highest function. Wisdom of the ages tells us clearly that it is not. And the book is a reminder for us of things we all urgently need to learn or relearn and, more than that, act upon, if life on earth is to survive and thrive.

So Uncommon Sense is basically a collection of awarenesses, strategies, skills, thoughts, beliefs, motivations, new habits (or old ones ‘re-membered’), etc, that many folk have found to be essential if we are to get anywhere near the care and contentment in life that we all dream was intended.