We all hold unconscious beliefs about others; it’s normal to categorize or organize our understanding of other people. This is known as “unconscious bias” or “implicit bias.”

Identifying our own biases can be complicated since they are strongly influenced by our upbringing and exposure to different groups of people. Additionally, there is no clear way to express them, and they encompass aspects such as political ideology, religious beliefs, financial influence, and misinformation, among others.

Some common examples of biases are:
• Attacking someone of a particular religion by questioning their nationality.
• Reporting an LGBTQ+ person for using the women’s restroom.
• Prohibiting employees from speaking a different language in public places.
• Calling the police because a couple of people of color are in a public space for an extended period.
• Assigning tasks only to people with whom we feel comfortable, ignoring the knowledge of others due to their different backgrounds.

Do I have biases?
Despite our best intentions, biases and discrimination can emerge in our communities, often where we least expect them.

Our biases can manifest in our behavior, comments, emails, text messages, articles, and in the connections, we establish with those around us. Some red flags include:

• When defending our arguments, we selectively present facts to reach our only conclusion.
• Attempting to persuade friends or family to think in a certain way without evidence for what we say.
• Using humor or irony to refer to certain people or groups.
• Using coded language, i.e., seemingly innocent words with an alternative or offensive meaning, such as “drug addicts,” “illegals,” “foreigners,” etc.
• Suspecting that someone has committed a crime based on their ethnic origin, either consciously or unconsciously.
• Paying more attention to the tone, emotion, or presentation of a fact, rather than what happened. This often occurs when concerns about racism or discrimination are invalidated.

A Starting Point
Because we are seldom aware of our biases towards others, it is crucial to create awareness to mitigate collective harm. To do this, it is essential to initiate conversations about the impact of discrimination. Here are some recommended practices:

Stay calm: Although it may be challenging to talk about biases, it is essential to remain calm.
Awaken your curiosity and listen: Listen to all opinions, even those that make you uncomfortable. Practice empathy by putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.
Don’t take anything personally: Avoid taking the opinions of others personally. Often, biases reflect more on the person expressing them than on the recipient.
Reflect on the conversation: Think about what you have learned by listening to others. Develop genuine empathy by putting yourself in their place.

Now that you’re willing to see the world through the eyes of others, what will you change in the future? Is there anything you can modify in your own behavior? Although we are very different individuals, our common ground is that we all belong to the human race; it’s just a matter of remembering it!

Muchas generaciones, en varias partes del mundo, hemos evidenciado conflictos y guerras a través de la historia. Han sido años de muchos de nosotros dedicados a la búsqueda y la construcción de paz desde nuestra labor diaria.  

Vivimos cada día con noticias desde distintas geografías con nuevas crisis, migraciones en aquí y allá, polémicas decisiones de cada mandatario, entender el papel de las organizaciones y el nuestro propio, y a la final, esperar a que un acontecimiento nos traiga esperanza.  

 Sin embargo, los tiempos actuales no son la excepción. El mundo tiene nuevos desafíos, la polarización es casi que agobiante y es claro que estamos atravesando profundos cambios colectivos. Y aunque nos apoyemos en uno u otro conocimiento intelectual para entender estas situaciones adversas, es completamente normal que surjan sentimientos de desesperación, confusión, tristeza, miedo e incertidumbre en nosotros o nuestros familiares.  

Estamos expuestos como humanidad, y en medio de tan diversos análisis y puntos de vista, no es claro saber qué nos espera. Pero si hay algo que podemos hacer, es empezar a aportar positivamente a la historia colectiva, a través de herramientas como una buena gestión emocional, la resolución efectiva de conflictos, la disminución de la violencia e incluso, el buen cuidado de tu salud mental. Aquí te presentamos algunos tips que puedes implementar: 

• Acepta la dualidad que habita en cada persona: reconoce la intrincada dualidad en cada individuo, la capacidad para el bien y el mal, la interacción entre el amor y la angustia existencial. Durante momentos desafiantes como los actuales, es fácil caer en el impulso de deshumanizar a otros con etiquetas como “monstruos” y convertirlos en tus enemigos. Sin embargo, la tarea es más bien enfocarte en comprender la complejidad de las personas y evitar caracterizarlas basándote sólo en prejuicios preconcebidos. 
• No te aferres al dolor colectivo, más bien intenta convertirte en un canal: a diferencia de una maleta que almacena y lleva el peso del mundo, un canal permite que el dolor fluya. Evita identificarte demasiado con el dolor, pues sólo es parte de tu experiencia, no tu identidad.  
• Humaniza a tus “adversarios”: primero, intenta la autorreflexión y aléjate un poco de tus suposiciones y sesgos. Luego, reconoce que tus adversarios, independientemente de sus opiniones, son fundamentalmente humanos, como tú con miedos y deseos. Reconocer esta humanidad compartida fomenta la empatía, incluso cuando hay desacuerdos.  
• Asume un papel pacificador(a): hay personas, organizaciones, e historias inspiradoras a nivel mundial. Si alguno de ellos resuena contigo, participa activamente en su misión con tus capacidades, tiempo o donaciones. 
• Enfócate en consumir contenido de valor: en un mundo de medios masivos de comunicación, manejados por intereses particulares, con titulares divisivos, decídete por consumir libros, boletines, documentales y periodismo independiente. Busca contenido que te conduzca a cultivar perspectivas más profundas y completas, no solo información fragmentada.  
• Recuerda siempre la fragilidad de la vida: la vida, independientemente de su forma, es efímera, especialmente en estos tiempos tumultuosos. Esta realización puede entristecernos, pero también empoderarnos. Cuando recuerdas la fragilidad de la vida, te motivas a seguir adelante y cumplir tus propósitos. 
• Elige ayudar a otros: ya sea como voluntario con quienes luchan contra enfermedades o apoyando a refugiados, una vida con trabajo de servicio cambia tu perspectiva y dirige tu energía hacia un impacto significativo y sin espacio para odios ni discusiones triviales. 
• Reconoce que sí ‘eres el cambio’: a veces, presenciar las luchas del mundo puede hacernos sentir impotentes. Y si bien, individualmente no podamos cambiar el mundo, ciertamente podemos cambiar una o varias vidas, comenzando por la tuya. Sé amable, escucha, cuida y comparte con quien tienes al lado, también esa persona está intentando aligerar el peso actual de nuestro mundo. 

For many generations across the world, conflicts and wars have been evident throughout history. Many of us have dedicated years to the pursuit and construction of peace in our daily work. 

Every day, we encounter news from different geographies with new crises, migrations here and there, controversial decisions from leaders, understanding the role of organizations and our own, and ultimately, hoping for an event that brings us hope. 

However, current times are no exception. The world faces new challenges, polarization is almost overwhelming, and it’s clear that we are undergoing profound collective changes. Despite leaning on various intellectual understandings to comprehend these adverse situations, it’s entirely normal for feelings of despair, confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty to arise in us or our loved ones. 

We are exposed as humanity, and amid diverse analyses and viewpoints, it’s unclear what awaits us. But one thing we can do is begin to contribute positively to collective history through tools such as good emotional management, effective conflict resolution, the reduction of violence, and even taking good care of your mental health. Here are some tips you can implement: 

• Accept the duality within each person: Recognize the intricate duality in every individual, the capacity for good and evil, the interaction between love and existential anguish. During challenging moments like the current ones, it’s easy to succumb to the impulse of dehumanizing others with labels like “monsters” and turning them into enemies. However, the task is to focus on understanding the complexity of people and avoid characterizing them based solely on preconceived prejudices. 
• Don’t cling to collective pain; instead, try to become a channel: Unlike a suitcase that stores and carries the weight of the world, a channel allows pain to flow. Avoid identifying too much with pain, as it’s only part of your experience, not your identity. 
• Humanize your “adversaries”: First, engage in self-reflection and step away from your assumptions and biases. Then, recognize that your adversaries, regardless of their opinions, are fundamentally human, like you, with fears and desires. Acknowledging this shared humanity fosters empathy, even in disagreement. 
• Assume a peacemaker role: There are inspiring people, organizations, and stories worldwide. If any of them resonate with you, actively participate in their mission with your skills, time, or donations. 
• Focus on consuming valuable content: In a world of mass media controlled by particular interests, with divisive headlines, choose to consume books, newsletters, documentaries, and independent journalism. Seek content that leads you to cultivate deeper and more complete perspectives, not just fragmented information. 
• Always remember the fragility of life: Life, regardless of its form, is ephemeral, especially in these tumultuous times. This realization can sadden us but also empower us. When you remember the fragility of life, you motivate yourself to move forward and fulfill your purposes. 
• Choose to help others: Whether as a volunteer with those fighting diseases or supporting refugees, a life of service changes your perspective and directs your energy toward significant impact, leaving no space for hatred or trivial arguments. 
• Recognize that you are ‘the change’: Sometimes, witnessing the world’s struggles can make us feel powerless. And while individually we may not change the world, we can certainly change one or several lives, starting with yours. Be kind, listen, care, and share with those around you; that person is also trying to lighten the current burden of our world.