Just because it's common sense it doesn't mean it is easy. Some things take new thinking, new practices, time and effort - even when the concept is simple, common sense. Getting control of our spending. Common sense says we will be happier living within our means. No debt hanging over us, threatening to topple a house of (credit) cards. Yet tending to "needs" without succumbing to "wants" is not that easy. In fact it seems easier to rationalize a want into a need than to deprive ourselves that immediate pleasure. For another example, take dealing with difficult people. Common sense says we have a problem and need a solution. But as long as the problem is "them", there is no need to confront our own contribution to the problem. To get to a solution we first have to see the problem in ourselves on the way to mastering emotions which in turn leads to greater effectiveness in dealing with the real issues. Sound easy? Try it!
How do athletes, musicians, actually anyone whose work we admire, make it look so easy, so effortless? Hard work. Practice. If Malcolm Gladwell is to believed (and who says he is not) it's 10,000 repetitions to achieve mastery.
So it is with common sense. If you want to use it you have to practice, practice, practice.
