We are faced with living and having to understand many people of all different backgrounds, cultures, and even different worldviews. It is important to not just understand our own views but also the views of those around us and where they are coming from. Although it can be extremely difficult, we must put aside our own values and beliefs to start understanding others better.
This does not mean we have to forget or not believe in our own values; we just need the time to truly set aside any bias. We must go into the understanding without any bias that will get in the way. We must have the desire to know and understand the world around us.
Our worldviews show how we perceive and understand as the truth and reality. This helps us with our values and beliefs, as well as how we act. It is important to understand the worldviews of others because we all affect each other and how we are choosing to live our lives. It can be scary to talk to others about their worldviews.
We must accept that people will always have different beliefs and views than us. It is important to show respect for other people’s beliefs as well as our own. Understanding and supporting other people’s worldviews does not mean that we have to follow those same worldviews.
Steps to better understand different worldviews
- Let go of your biases
To truly understand others, we cannot let our beliefs or biases get in the way of seeing their views and why they have those views.
- Do your research on other cultures and beliefs
Research can be started through reading up on articles, or it can be helpful to start talking to friends that may have different worldviews and beliefs.
- Look into the tools given to other cultures
What did they have in order to thrive in their environment or that impacted their beliefs? Did they have to make things work with little to no tools? This can show a lot about why people have certain worldviews when dealing with situations of oppression.
- Do not undermine other people’s knowledge and life experiences
No matter what other people have to say about their views and experiences, do not undermine what they have to say. No one lives the exact same life, so we have not experienced what they have. Everyone’s experiences are important, so we must show acceptance for all.
- Learn and use proper communication
Proper communication should involve active listening skills. This helps us to show respect, gain the knowledge from what is said, and respond in an acceptable way. This helps us to correctly obtain what people are telling us, without making any assumptions.
- Stay open-minded
It can be hard to understand and accept other people’s worldviews when they are different than our own. In order to show acceptance and evolve as a society, we must learn to understand others without bias. We must keep an open mind to fully understand others.
Different worldviews can…
- Help us to understand the motivation of others
- Help us understand political, social, and economic decisions
- Help us to avoid bias and misconceptions
- Help us see others’ ideas of reality
- Help us build connections with others
- Help us create a better society for future generations
Working towards understanding other people’s worldviews is just the beginning of being able to show acceptance for all and growing as a society. We all deserve to have our own values, beliefs, and worldviews, even if other’s do not understand them.
The more we understand, the more we can work together in everyday settings, as well as on a political and societal level. This is something that will take many years to work on, but we must be willing to start now to help those in the future. We must be willing and unafraid to stand up and make a change for the better.
