Some days ago I had the opportunity to participate in a Workshop called “Allies to Advocates for Diversity and Inclusion” with an extraordinary group of people who expressed their interests to be part of the change, people who want to add value, and believe that things can be different.
Many reflections came out in that session. For example, how our brain is pre-programmed to not pay attention to each other. Or that our survival instinct is not prepared to deal with what is “different” to us. Other reflections came out, as the relevance of listening with genuine interest. Also, to have the openness to try to understand that the challenges of minorities can be very different and that they do not have a voice to represent them. And the relevance of self-knowledge, to consciously try to recognize that as humans we may not be seeing that there is a problem.
One of the objectives of the workshop was to start this space of reflection, but it also was a calling to take action. Although it is a good start, we need more than empathy if we want to see a change. It takes more than good will to make things happen. We need to make choices.
Consider these possibilities. What if we make a stop to think and choose to behave differently, less indifferent to the each other. What if we don’t judge, if we recognize that we have stereotypes about what is the right thing to do and even about how people should behave.
What If we chose to behave beyond our natural instincts for what we like and don’t like. If we come up and show true interest and ask her about her great idea. If we really listen and try to understand. What if we really care enough to work for a deep connection, because connection is what enables us to add value.
If we are not willing to do something different, we may be missing out on something that could change our lives. Our choices and actions —or our inaction— define us as the person we are.
We all have the capacity to change for better. Everyone has the capacity to do better. The choices that we are making, the effort, and the risk are just the beginning of the journey.
We need to get involved. We need to go beyond what is expected.