Speed Up
The world around us is constantly speeding up. Technology evolves faster than ever, requirements and standards keep rising and we have less and less time to explore new things. As a result, we become deeply rooted in our habits, unintentionally feeding the development of our unconscious biases.
The phase we live in applies constant pressure to keep up. There is no magic button to pause everything, turn around and calmly explore the world at our own pace.
As a result, bias seeps into every aspect of our lives - how we think, what we watch, what we eat, how we view the world and how we treat the people around us. The list could go on forever.
So the question is: can we put the world on hold?
Formation
Social Media
We are surrounded by screens from the moment we wake up until bedtime. The algorithms we rely on to navigate the digital world are built around our interests and existing biases. They are designed to feed us content we expect and want to see.
We know which countries we want to visit based on suggestions. We know the “best” restaurants in cities we have never been to. We believe we know a lot about people from different countries - their habits, what they do right or wrong, what they should change and what is supposedly best for them.
Our political views are constantly magnified by content delivered inside our filtered bubbles.
No matter what we do online, the content around us is shaped to support our existing views and validate them.
Social Circle
Our social circles like family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and shared activities also play a role in building these bubbles. We are often surrounded by people who think similarly, which adds yet another layer of reinforcement to our worldview.
In many cases, it becomes difficult to understand people from different groups because our interactions are limited to the circles we choose.
Exceptional Discovery
Music falls into an exceptional category and, in a way, shows us a path toward reducing bias. Every music streaming service offers a discovery playlist - music that exists outside our algorithmic bubble.
We feel little risk in exploring new music. We are happy to press play, discover new genres or artists and occasionally be surprised.
The same approach should apply to our lives.
We need to expand our boundaries, try new things, change habits and explore the world. We should look at the people around us without biased glasses - try to understand their perspectives and the realities they live in.
Expanding horizons does not mean we must agree with everything we discover. It is okay to agree to disagree. It is okay to keep some of our existing beliefs.
The goal is not to add the entire playlist to our library (not even the whole album 🙂).
The goal is to find a few new songs - ideas, perspectives or experiences that truly resonate and create a wow moment in our minds.
Up Next
Check the Expiration Date
When looking for information, advice, or understanding the current state of things, check the expiration date. Many articles, videos and opinions are based on information from 10, 15, or even 20 years ago.
Even this article may be shaped by personal biases formed years earlier.
Stay informed about what is happening today, not just what was true in the past.
Explore
Travel the world. Meet new people. Try new food. Listen to a discovery playlist if you haven’t yet. Read books or articles from perspectives you don’t usually agree with. Attend events, workshops or meetups outside your usual circle.
Small changes in what you explore can quietly reshape how you see the world.
Touch the Grass
From time to time, escape the digital world and experience real life. Online experiences are shaped by algorithms, while real-life events, conversations and meetups can reveal completely different angles of reality.
Glasses
Remove biased glasses and experience the world as it is.
Process
Enjoy the process. Not everything needs a destination. Follow the path, expand your boundaries and aim to stay as much as possible bias-aware.