Practice mindfulness meditation to become aware of the feelings (affection or hostility) that drive cognitive biases like confirmation bias, allowing you to loosen their grip and see the world more clearly. This awareness is crucial for making wiser decisions, being a better citizen, and ultimately leading to greater happiness and reduced suffering.
Actively work to understand the perspectives of others, especially those with whom you disagree or feel hostile towards, without necessarily agreeing with or sympathizing with them. This understanding, which mindfulness can facilitate by abating hostility, is a critical strength for navigating complex social and ideological landscapes.
Develop the courage to push back against your ideological group when they uncritically embrace views, take uncharitable attitudes, or overgeneralize about ’the other side.’ Mindfulness can help overcome the fear of disapproval from your peers, enabling you to speak out for more constructive dialogue.
Actively consume news and media from outlets that process events differently from your own ideological perspective. This practice helps you understand how ’the other side’ thinks, providing valuable insight into their mindset and avoiding the reinforcement of your own biases.
Intentionally form friendships with people who hold different political or ideological views. Face-to-face conversation with those you disagree with has a civilizing effect, making it harder to demonize them and fostering mutual understanding and potential influence.
Be mindful of the fundamental attribution error, where you tend to attribute negative actions of ’enemies’ to their character and positive actions of ‘friends’ to their character, while excusing negative actions of friends by circumstance. Consciously consider situational factors when judging others’ behavior, especially those you dislike.
Avoid the urge to uncritically retweet content that demonizes ’the other tribe’ or confirms your existing biases, as this fuels an unhealthy incentive structure. Instead, notice the feelings driving these impulses, and consider disengaging temporarily or returning later to respond thoughtfully, rather than reactively.
Regularly reassess and adapt your meditation practice, as what works for a while may change. Lower expectations, experiment with different timings (e.g., evening sessions), or explore new techniques like intermittent awareness throughout the day, rather than adhering dogmatically to one path.
Engage in loving kindness meditation, starting by sending good wishes to an ’easy person’ (like a child or pet) to build concentration and positive feelings. Once the ’engine is revved,’ gently include yourself in the practice, and then extend it to others, including those you find challenging, to foster compassion and a kinder relationship with yourself.