Embracing diversity does not mean trying to be color-blind or pretending that other races, cultures, political parties, religious sects, or social affiliations don’t exist, rather it means not believing you know anything about a person based on their identity. Each of us is enough, as we have been discovering throughout this year’s post theme, but we must also recognize that our “enough” is not the same as another’s “enough.” We are all unique individuals, sharing some qualities, but embodying other, diverse qualities. Embracing diversity means recognizing those differences, whether or not we agree with them. In other words, avoid stereotyping. This means “being respectful, which is the key to adapting to a new, diverse environment. To prevent or resolve conflicts that may occur in any social interaction, you should maintain an attitude of respect for others, be open-minded and willing to compromise, and know how to work together calmly to resolve conflicts.” (How To Embrace Diversity in Various Forms, 2021) An effective way to do this is to find common ground. Instead of focusing on the differences between parties, find out the similarities. Always be respectful of the differences, but working from a standpoint of common ground will provide a much better relationship. Recognizing and being respectful of other’s differences starts with accepting our own differences. Once we do that, we are going to be better able to relate to others. It’s one thing to have an opinion on something, yet quite another to try to force others to conform to our way of thinking. That is not embracing diversity, that is exhibiting privilege. The “I am right, you are wrong” attitude will get you nowhere. “We’re all wired differently and have different priorities, beliefs, and values. Through an exploration of these individual factors, we can learn how to better appreciate ourselves―and in turn, how to love more deeply, think more expansively, and live more abundantly.” (Dutt, n.d.) According to an article published in Illumination, there are four types of self-related beliefs we embody: 1.Identity (who people think they are and what they think they’re like) 2.Self-confidence/efficacy (people’s beliefs about what they can do) 3.Self-esteem (people’s evaluations of themselves) 4.Self-compassion (how people think about themselves when bad things happen). (Sapien, 2022) Go through the four types and think about how you identify yourself from each perspective. Knowing who you are, who others think you are, and how you think about yourself is a giant step toward accepting our own diversity, and having compassion, as well as respect, for other’s diversity. References
Dutt, S. (n.d.). Embrace Our Differences: The Psychology of Self-Acceptance. Retrieved from Search Medium: https://medium.com/som-dutts-philosophy/embrace-our-differences-the-psychology-of-self-acceptance-7009b2469439 How To Embrace Diversity in Various Forms. (2021, December 9). Retrieved from Luther College: https://www.luther.edu/inside-college-admissions-blog/how-to-embrace-diversity-in-various-forms#: Sapien. (2022, May 14). The 4 Types of Self-Related Beliefs and How What You Say to Yourself Improve Your Life. Retrieved from Search Medium: https://medium.com/illumination/the-4-types-of-self-related-beliefs-and-how-what-you-say-to-yourself-improve-your-life-a4646f59a9de#:
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AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
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