I Just Can’t See It! How to Uncover Hidden Biases (series coming February 1)
—#Write28Days
Have you ever said to someone: “Why can’t you see this?!?”
It’s often a struggle to understand another person, especially when we disagree. We think the other person is the problem. . . .
- They’re so naive.
- They’re being selfish.
- They’re not even trying.
- They’ve gone crazy.
- They’re not listening to me.
Meanwhile, they are thinking the same about us, that indeed we are the problem.
But the truth? We all have blind spots.
Our brains work hard to protect the status quo. To keep us from using too much mental energy to think things through.
We all operate with a suitcase of mental biases. We unconsciously pull one out as needed and wear it proudly, without even realizing it.
Biases prevent us from seeing things as they are. The word bias itself comes from an Old French word biais meaning “sideways, askance, a slant.”
Who wants to see life sideways? Maybe for an amusing side show, but for regular living, we need to see life straight forward.
To see more clearly—and to reduce unnecessary arguments with people we love—we need to uncover common biases that blind us, such as Confirmation Bias, Loss Aversion Bias, Conspiracy Bias, Complexity Bias, etc.
Understanding these hidden roadblocks can open our paths to be less prejudiced, less closed-minded. And it can help us have healthier relationships and more peace.
For the next 28 days in February 2021, we’ll create a cheat sheet together of mental strategies that bias our thinking.
And more importantly, we’ll discover ways we can break these biases to see life, God, and each other more clearly.
The Table of Contents page is here. I’ll add accompanying links as we go.
Is there a particular bias that gets in your way? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If you want to follow the series, subscribe to the blog here to receive the posts as email.
If you want to write your own series (on ANY topic!) for Anita Ojeda’s #Write28Days blogging and/or Instagram challenge, get the details here. We start February 1.
Oh! I am really looking forward to your series, Lisa! I haven’t heard of all the biases you lost, but I do know I suffer from confirmation bias. This the perfect time to explore our hidden biases.
Can’t wait to uncover these hidden biases, Lisa. I like the comparisons to blind spots and a mental suitcase. This must be the baggage we keep tripping over when it comes to disagreements with others.
This looks great, Lisa. Hard, but a good, hard, and needful series for me. As much as I think I have few biases, that is not the truth of it.
Wonderful series for February, Lisa. I’m looking forward to it!
Blessings!
Lisa, this sounds like it’s going to be a great series! Just reading this post got me thinking about relationships in my life where there is discord. I’ll be pondering the thoughts shared here today and from your future posts!
This will be good. We have have biases about others, the world, God, and our self. Sometimes I wonder if we see much of life clearly.
Fabulous idea, Lisa! You are on target, we all have biases, and to most, we are blind. Looking forward to this series to explore my own, thank you!
This sounds interesting, Lisa. I’m looking forward to it. Love and blessings to you!
Thanks for doing this. I look forward to reading it.
I appreciate that you will address hidden bias over the next 28 days. Especially because, “Understanding these hidden roadblocks can open our paths to be less prejudiced, less closed-minded. And it can help us have healthier relationships and more peace.”
This looks like a great one. Can’t wait!
Just catching up now. Nice series! “bias” still has its concrete meaning in tailoring (to cut cloth on the bias means to have the pattern at a slant to the grain, makes clothes hang better). You also remind me of my favourite sonnet,
…
I am that I am; and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
…