Week 177

Positive post Sunday, July 12, 2020- Week 177. 

Anyone of us who claims to not have biases is either not being honest with our self or does not have an objective self-awareness.  I find it interesting to note that if you look up synonyms for objective, you’ll find the word unbiased!  God knows, and recent events have certainly exposed, that there is a negative side of biases that can be destructive and cause unfairness and injustice.

That being said, I believe we also have positive biases, many of which define who we are.  For example, if I grew up in a home of faith, I might believe that living a life of faith is important to achieve everlasting life (Faith).  Similarly, if I was raised by parents who put their children first, often ahead of their own needs, and honored their marriage vows for over 60 years to date, I might believe that family and marriage are sacred (Family).  Furthermore, if I played sports and was encouraged to focus on my schoolwork as a child, I might believe that a balance of physical and mental fitness helps children grow up to be active and healthy adults (Fitness).  

There is no shortage of research on bias and many books have been written on the subject.  One common theme I have observed in all my research is that we all have biases, both positive and negative, that influence our lives and shape our beliefs.  Also, that self-awareness of our biases and how they influence our beliefs and actions is critical for us gain a better understanding of ourselves and perhaps improve how we engage with others.   

While researching bias I came across an article by Robert Glazer titled, Changing Minds.  In his article, Glazer notes that we are all biased and see the world in different ways based on our own experiences, values and viewpoints.  He also suggests that biases are part of being human and that not all biases are negative, and that we all must be willing to change our own minds and share knowledge to help others do the same.

Are you aware of your biases and how they impact your engagements with others?

Are you willing to change your mind and share knowledge with others?