We can't outlive our lives if we can't get beyond our biases. Max Lucado
I've been thinking a lot about biases lately. We all have them and if you deny that you have them you are, well, a liar! :) Seriously. We all have biases about a variety of things. I decided a few weeks ago to challenge one of the many biases I have. Have you ever done that? Have you ever purposely sought out information on the opposing view so that your bias can be reformed or strengthened? It can be tough because in the search to understand the bias (opinion) opposite ours we are usually required to examine the parts of our own bias that aren't 100% accurate. Nobody likes to concede to the "other side". It requires humility to see through your own bias and acknowledge the opposite. It requires grace to be in relationship with those who hold opposite biases than you (on the controversial topics, I'm not at all referring to the silly little biases we have regarding coffee, etc). It requires maturity to speak words that are meaningful rather than words that are meant to scoff. I think there are more ways to approach and live with differing biases but those are just a few and, as I see it, engaging in those and other ways is how we get beyond our biases to live fuller lives. We all have biases and there's no getting around that we will, but as long as we are bound by them and allow them to trump right behavior and relationships we will find ourselves living a meager existence. Want to outlive your life? Don't be afraid to put your biases in their rightful place.
I've been thinking a lot about biases lately. We all have them and if you deny that you have them you are, well, a liar! :) Seriously. We all have biases about a variety of things. I decided a few weeks ago to challenge one of the many biases I have. Have you ever done that? Have you ever purposely sought out information on the opposing view so that your bias can be reformed or strengthened? It can be tough because in the search to understand the bias (opinion) opposite ours we are usually required to examine the parts of our own bias that aren't 100% accurate. Nobody likes to concede to the "other side". It requires humility to see through your own bias and acknowledge the opposite. It requires grace to be in relationship with those who hold opposite biases than you (on the controversial topics, I'm not at all referring to the silly little biases we have regarding coffee, etc). It requires maturity to speak words that are meaningful rather than words that are meant to scoff. I think there are more ways to approach and live with differing biases but those are just a few and, as I see it, engaging in those and other ways is how we get beyond our biases to live fuller lives. We all have biases and there's no getting around that we will, but as long as we are bound by them and allow them to trump right behavior and relationships we will find ourselves living a meager existence. Want to outlive your life? Don't be afraid to put your biases in their rightful place.
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