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“Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.” — Gertrude Stein
Do you agree?

I don’t know if I agree completely. I agree that we are inundated with visual and audio stimulus all day long and it can prove to be overwhelming, but I don’t know if we necessarily lose our common sense because of it. I think that discipline and self-confidence have a part in how we withstand the informational deluge. The advent of the intent and the birth of social media, on top of the older technologies has produced a cacophony of noise that can deafen one’s own mind and voice, perhaps drowning the common sense that lives in most of us.

In my own experience, I try to read as many different sources and texts before I formulate my own conclusions. I also do have an inherent inclination to avoid the bandwagons, it is the tiniest expression of my old rebellious streak that I allow to stay, marching to one’s own drum helps keep the noise and chatter at bay and gives you room to breathe and ruminate over the variety of information allowed into the mind palace.

I stole the phrase mind palace from Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman because I like the metaphor. A mind as a palace makes me think of something that deserves to be treated with respect and the immensity of the building reflects the immensity of one’s mind and the capability to lose oneself in any palace, even your own is appealing; finding your way in your own palace can lead you to rooms that you haven’t frequented in a while and can be refreshing or illuminating, however you choose to see it.

Perhaps that is why so many recommend yoga and meditation; if you feel overwhelmed and thus get lost within your mind palace, then meditating can perhaps be the waystation towards regaining possession of your mind palace allowing you to calmly settle your thoughts and regain your peace of mind and common sense.