Taking a chapter out of "21 Principles for Life '' by Miyamoto Musashi, "In all things have no preference" speaks well on the benefits of not being bias.
Biases are a part of human nature. We all have them, and they can affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Biases can be positive or negative, conscious or unconscious. Biases can have a significant impact on our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. They can lead us to make unfair judgments about others, and they can prevent us from seeing the world accurately.
There are many different types of bias, including:
Confirmation bias:
This is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them.
Attribution bias:
Is the tendency to make judgments about others based on our own experiences and biases.
Halo effect:
This is the tendency to form an overall impression of someone based on a single positive or negative trait.
If you find yourself caught in the trap of being bias, consider one of these many ways to overcome them, and gain a different perspective of a person and/or life.
What can we do to overcome bias?
Be aware of your own biases.
This is The first step. Take some time to think about your own beliefs and values, and how they might be influencing your thoughts and actions
Challenge your assumptions.
When you encounter information that contradicts your beliefs, don't just dismiss it. Take some time to think about why the information might be different from what you expected.
Be open to new experiences.
One of the best ways to overcome bias is to be open to new experiences. Meet people from different backgrounds and try new things. The more you experience, the less likely you are to be biased.
Be willing to change your mind.
It's okay to change your mind. In fact, it's a sign of intelligence and maturity. If you are presented with new information that contradicts your beliefs, be willing to change your mind.
Personal story
I once worked at Kroger, a grocery store in the south, in the deli section. I would cut meat and cheese for various customers. We had a nice array of cheeses and meats, many of which I had never heard of or tried, and I like to eat
One day, a guy came in to order his usual pairing of meat and cheese. But this day, we had a new cheese on sale. I asked him if he would like to try it, but he was hesitant. "I don't know about that," he said. After convincing him to give it a try ("What's the harm?"), he openly decided to try it.
He sat in contemplation as he chewed, and his expression slowly changed from disgust to a pleasant "not so bad" reaction. Once he was finished, he said, "Give me a quarter pound of that."
By taking the moment to step outside of his bias and his regular routine, he opened the door to a new experience. He expanded his taste buds and gave himself more options.
When we cut ourselves off from new things, focusing only on the familiar, it limits our growth. You may have a million-dollar idea, but the person next to you may have the ability to make a billion-dollar idea. But unless you let go of your biases and open yourself up to new possibilities, that idea you have, will just be an idea.
Limiting your biases, opens you up to many diversities and a deeper beauty of the world. You'll find yourself eagerly awaiting the next person to cross your path, the next collaboration, and the next adventure that life brings your way.
By being aware of our own biases and taking steps to reduce them, we can help to create a more just and equitable world.
In addition to the above, here are some other things that we can do to help push the world and mindset in a positive direction for change:
Educate ourselves about bias.
There are many resources available to help us learn more about biases and how it affects our thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Talk to others about bias.
The more we talk about biases, the more likely we are to understand it and to overcome it.
Hold ourselves accountable.
When we are aware of our biases, we can make a conscious effort to overcome them.
Be kind to others.
Even if we don't agree with someone, we can still treat them with respect.
By taking these steps, we can help to create a world where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
So, as we as a collective move forward to a greater future, let us consider our biases & how this can affect the next person that crosses our paths. Let's take "self" out of it and think of others. Let's help push this world and mind frame in a positive direction for change.
Peace. ☮ Love. 💖 Light & Growth🌱 to all!
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