Identifying Our Similarities & Differences
As human beings, it’s easy to separate ourselves from each other based on real or perceived differences. This includes race, language, religion, and gender. We often lead ourselves to infiltrate stereotypes on others. It’s important to evaluate the perception of our similarities and differences in order to better understand our humanity and our connection with others.
It’s also crucial to understand that our differences come in many shapes and sizes. We may be different due to our political affiliations, socioeconomic status, and general upbringing. But more often than not, we share core similarities that often go overlooked or minimized. For example, there are various practices of religion but at the end of the day, most religions and spiritual traditions all share a concept of a supreme being. All cultures share their own traditions and values, especially food. How we prepare and consume may be different but it’s something we all have in common.
In order to properly value and honor diversity, it’s important to educate ourselves first and then one another.
When figuring out the best ways to bring your community together, organize with these tactics:
- Dialogue — Create a conversation that will result in the sharing of life stories in order to learn from each other.
- Commonality — Within your community (household, classroom, workplace, etc.), think about or discover what issues and interests you know everyone has in common. This will allow those who are participating to understand that there is a common goal you are striving to achieve together.
- Inclusion — Make sure that everyone involved feels included. It’s important to have a diverse group of people that can contribute to the discussion.
Although sometimes it comes as second nature to judge others, here is the best way to combat our perceptions:
- Unlearn — Whether it’s in history books or in the mainstream media, we have all been miseducated about those who are different than us. It’s time to erase the negative stereotypes we’ve created about others.
- Understand — Be intentional about learning from others and accept their words as their own. See where that person’s ideologies come from.
- Engage — Interact with people that are different than you. Find a way to connect and identify with that person. Allow this experience to humanize yourself.
- Motivate — Understand the value and relevance of learning from others. This can enhance the quality of your life, professional practice, and effectiveness. You can look at others, life, and yourself from a networking perspective, too!
Having empathy for others is at the root of depleting your own bias. Although it’s easier said than done, it’s important to interact and develop a want to omit the stereotypes of other groups that we do not identify with.
