Indian
spiritual and political leader, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must
be the change you want to see in the world.” Unfortunately, not
everyone has the same idea of what that
change would look like.
What if all people chose to value and respect others starting with those in their own communities? What if individuals trapped in the venom of racism were freed of the poisonous and deadly effects it produces? Wouldn’t that begin to manifest change throughout the world?
If each one of us takes a step to reach one for positive change, we can begin to make this world a safer and more accepting place for all human beings.
Here are 10 steps to becoming the change we want to see:
1) Look inward. Become more conscious of your own preconceived thoughts and biases about others.
What if all people chose to value and respect others starting with those in their own communities? What if individuals trapped in the venom of racism were freed of the poisonous and deadly effects it produces? Wouldn’t that begin to manifest change throughout the world?
If each one of us takes a step to reach one for positive change, we can begin to make this world a safer and more accepting place for all human beings.
Here are 10 steps to becoming the change we want to see:
1) Look inward. Become more conscious of your own preconceived thoughts and biases about others.
2)
Minimize
“tolerance” of others.
Tolerance sounds like a positive word, but it is not
when used in regards to people. When someone tolerates another
person, they are “putting up with” them. Who wants to be put up
with?
3)
Maximize
empathy.
Empathy is not sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone. It is
rather a concerned disposition that carries with it a sense of
compassion.
4)
Understand
diversity.
Be mindful that other people may not be like you in any
way or they may experience the world differently than you. Diversity
means “differences”.
5)
Ask
yourself this question:
If this happened to someone I care about, would it still be okay?
6)
Avoid
assumptions.
Generalizing and grouping people into categories based on stereotypes
and lack of information usually leads to prejudice and racism.
7)
Take
a stand.
Make a personal commitment to stand against prejudice by speaking
against statements or actions that are derogatory, demeaning or
hurtful to others.
8)
Challenge
Stinkin’ Thinkin’.
These are negative thoughts, attitudes and behaviors that are driven
by social conditioning. Some of these behaviors and ideas are passed
down from generation to generation.
9) Promote equity for all people. We are still one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
10) Choose to be the change. Make a conscious choice to be the change we all want to see. Remember: Nobody is a Nobody, and everybody is Somebody.
Blessings
to you,
Gloria
End
Of Guest Post