Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: My friend, do you know what's interesting?
We live in a world where people have access to more information than ever before.
Yet sometimes making a simple, sensible decision seems harder than solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded.
And while we're busy overthinking everything, we're also stressing ourselves out.
Today, we're tackling both problems. Cue the intro.
[00:00:34] Speaker B: From the natural state. This is public facing the podcast with jo holman.
[00:00:45] Speaker A: Hello to you, my favorite listener. You're listening to Public Facing the Podcast and I'm Joe Holman. And thanks for spending a little time with me today.
It's Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and today happens to bring us to two interesting observances.
Use your Common Sense Day and International Stress Awareness Day. Now, I realize that those two subjects might sound like they belong in completely different conversations.
One is about making better decisions, the other about recognizing when life is making. You want to throw your decisions out the window.
But honestly, they have quite a bit in common. Think about it.
Sometimes we create unnecessary stress because we make decisions without thinking things through.
Other times we're so stressed that our ability to think clearly, well, it takes a vacation without us.
And that's what we're talking about today. Now, our roadmap for today, we're going to look at why common sense still matters, why stress deserves more attention than we sometimes give it, and how a little practical thinking can help us navigate both our personal and professional lives.
Because here's the big idea. You don't have to control everything happening around you, but you can become more intentional about how you respond. Alright, so let's get into this.
Now, let's start with common sense. November 4th is recognized as Use your common sense day. It's an informal observance that encourages people to exercise practical judgment and think before acting.
And I think we all agree that the world could use just a little more of that.
Some areas more than others.
Common sense, well, it isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about applying reasonable judgment to everyday situations.
And it's knowing that if something sounds too good to be true that you might want to investigate before handing over your credit card.
It's checking your work before hitting send on an email that was clearly written while you were angry.
And sometimes it's just because something is showing available on the Internet. Well, it doesn't necessarily make it true. And that's a big one. So buyer beware.
Now, we have access to an incredible amount of information, but information and knowledge aren't necessarily the same thing.
And having an opinion doesn't automatically make that opinion a fact.
Now, common sense means recognizing the situation, considering the consequences, and making a reasonable choice.
It also means knowing when you don't have enough information.
And that's something I wish more people would embrace, because there's absolutely nothing wrong with saying, I don't know. Let me check.
Now, sometimes the smartest thing you can do is pause.
Well, before making a decision.
Ask yourself three questions. What do I actually know?
What am I assuming? And what could happen if I get this wrong?
See, those three questions can prevent a surprising number of unnecessary problems.
And trust me, we all have enough problems without volunteering for additional ones.
Now, today is also International Stress Awareness Day, observed on the first Wednesday of November.
It's part of a broader effort to encourage conversations about stress, its effects, and the importance of mental well being.
And this is a conversation that we need to have.
It can affect just about anybody. And sometimes, well, it's not one major problem. No, sometimes it's 20 little problems showing up all at once, demanding immediate attention.
And here's something important.
People don't all experience stress in the same way.
We shouldn't be comparing stress like it's some type of competition.
This is not the Olympics of exhaustion.
Nobody gets a gold medal for sleeping four hours, skipping lunch, answering emails at midnight, and announcing, I'm fine.
And please understand this.
Recognizing stress isn't a sign of weakness. No, it's it's information.
And the World Health Organization recommend practical approaches to managing stress, including maintaining routines, getting adequate sleep, staying physically active, and connecting with people you trust.
So don't wait until you're completely overwhelmed to start paying attention to stress.
Recognize the signs, identify what's contributing to it, and take practical steps to address it.
And if stress is interfering with your everyday life or becoming difficult to manage, well, then consider speaking with a qualified health care professional. You don't have to figure everything out by yourself.
Now, also, before agreeing to take on just one more responsibility.
Pause.
Yeah, pause. And ask yourself whether you actually have the time and energy to do it.
But let you know Secret.
Here's a word that deserves more respect.
No, no, I can't take that on right now.
No, I need more information before making that decision.
No, I need some time to think about it.
See, these aren't rude responses. No, they're reasonable boundaries.
Now, give yourself permission to pause.
A thoughtful response is usually more useful than an immediate reaction. And sometimes taking five minutes to think can save you five days of unnecessary stress.
So I want to leave you with something practical.
First, before you react, not everything deserves an immediate response.
Second, recognize when you're stressed and don't dismiss it, hide it, or convince yourself that ignoring it will somehow make it go away.
And third, take one practical action to improve the situation and you can control how you respond, how you communicate, and whether you make decisions that move you toward a better outcome.
That's where common sense and stress awareness meet.
And that's going to bring us to today's final Word.
In today's final word, here's what I want you to remember. Common sense is about thinking before acting.
Stress awareness is about recognizing when something isn't right and doing something constructive about it.
And personal responsibility means understanding that the choices we make, including how we respond to difficult situations, matter.
You don't have to have all the answers, you don't have to be perfect, and you certainly don't have to pretend to that everything is wonderful when it isn't. But you do owe yourself the opportunity to make thoughtful decisions and recognize your limits while taking care of your well being.
So the next time something in life throws something unexpected your way, pause and take a breath.
Think it through.
Ask yourself what's actually important, and remember that not every problem needs an immediate reaction, and not every stressful situation needs to become a crisis.
Sometimes the smartest move is to simply slow down, use your common sense, and take care of yourself.
Because being smart isn't just about what you know, it's also about how you choose to use what you know. And that's today's final word.
I want to thank you for spending a few moments with us today on Public Facing the podcast.
If today's conversation gave you something to think about, share this episode with someone who could use a little reminder about common sense, stress, or both.
And while you're at it, follow the podcast, subscribe and leave a review.
Your support helps more people discover the show For Public Facing, I'm Joe Holman. Until next time, keep thinking, keep questioning and treat people with respect.
Remembering that just because you can doesn't always mean you should.
Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and I'll see you next time.
[00:10:32] Speaker B: Thanks for listening to Public Facing, the podcast with Joe Holman. Visit us online at publicfacingpod stream and on x.com publicfacingpod Sam.
