Take a good, hard look at your own prejudices and conditioning, as this exploration can be deeply enjoyable, interesting, and profoundly rewarding.
Engage in meditation practice to help with humbling work like examining biases and prejudices, as it can provide support during challenging self-exploration.
Apply principles of meditation like letting go and sitting with discomfort to examine deeply held narratives about yourself and aspects of your identity when confronted with challenging truths.
When you notice yourself reacting to something, acknowledge the reaction, but understand that you don’t need to act on it; instead, take a breath and let it go.
Deflate defensiveness by recognizing that biased thoughts are natural cognitive shortcuts, not personal failings; don’t take them personally, and don’t act on them or use them to define yourself as ‘rotten’.
When confronted with truths about systemic issues (e.g., whiteness as a force of injustice), understand that these statements are about historical concepts and systems, not a personal indictment, and therefore, don’t take them personally.
Acknowledge the truth of systemic issues without feeling personal guilt for being born into the system, as recognizing these truths is not a personal attack.
Actively learn to observe your own biased thinking patterns so you can consciously let them go and choose not to act on them.
Adopt a ‘good-ish’ mindset instead of striving for perfect goodness, as this allows for continuous growth and acknowledges that you are genuinely trying to be better.
Engage in the difficult work of examining biases and systemic issues, motivated by a desire to be a better person and not contribute to societal injustices.
Pursue truth in understanding societal issues and personal biases, as living with and acknowledging truth can lead to greater personal contentment.
Look at all forms of bias (sexism, ageism, power dynamics, etc.) to understand your mind’s sorting mechanisms, as seeing these biases prevents you from being held hostage by them and can be a source of pleasure.
Avoid dogmatism and the need to defend every thought; by being less rigid with your beliefs and tribal identities, you will get along better with people and experience greater happiness.
When addressing racism, prioritize understanding and addressing systemic structures and policies that create inequality, rather than solely focusing on individual attitudes or prejudices.
Learn that race is a human invention, motivated by economic exploitation, to fundamentally alter your understanding of how race operates today.
When discussing race, shift the focus from solely reporting on people of color to examining the concept of ‘whiteness’ itself and its historical origins, as race and racism were invented by those defined as white.
Recognize that if you are not actively working to dismantle and change systemic racist systems, you are complicit; therefore, strive to be anti-racist by putting your shoulder to the wheel.
Take time to educate yourself thoroughly on racism and its complexities before rushing into activism, as acting without sufficient understanding may inadvertently cause harm.
When you feel the need to learn more about racism, actively seek out educational resources like relevant podcasts and books to deepen your understanding.
Actively listen to podcasts, read, and follow people from across the ideological spectrum to challenge your own tribal biases and gain a more complicated, nuanced understanding of issues like racism and sexism.
When encountering terms like ‘white supremacy’ that may trigger strong reactions, engage with the educational process (e.g., listening to a comprehensive podcast series) to understand their broader, more pervasive meaning beyond common interpretations.
To understand sexism, investigate the historical origins of patriarchal structures, questioning when and how the idea of men being in charge became widespread.
Recognize that you are not free of gender bias; continuously observe how patriarchal patterns function in society and within yourself, using educational resources (like the ‘Men’ podcast) to deepen your understanding and practice.
Cultivate mindful awareness to repeatedly observe biased thoughts or expectations related to gender in your mind, then choose to let them go and not act on them, recognizing them as untrue.
Contribute to building a more fair and just society, recognizing that everyone, including those who currently benefit from existing systems, ultimately has something to gain from such a transformation.
Vote for political candidates who advocate for policies that address historical injustices and systemic inequalities, such as reparations or other measures to close the wealth gap.
Identify and contribute to local community efforts aimed at changing institutions like schools or the criminal justice system to make them less systemically racist.
Act as an accomplice to colleagues of color by supporting them when they discuss discomfort or racism in the workplace, rather than being disengaged or resentful during diversity meetings.
Check out John Bewin’s ‘Scene on Radio’ podcast, specifically seasons two (‘Seeing White’) and three (‘Men’), for deep dives into white people/whiteness and sexism, respectively, as they can have a big impact.
Consider attending contemplative care summits, such as the ‘Love and Resilience’ event, to learn about relationship dynamics and contemplative care practices.
Sign up for the 10% Happier meditation app to access guided meditations, live community sessions, and ad-free podcast episodes, taking advantage of any available discounts.