Things are seldom as they seem

One may be familiar with these expressions, "don't judge a book by its cover" or "appearances are often misleading". These have been coined in reference to the tendency human-kind have towards making assumptions based on a first glance, an initial contact or a random coincidence. Therefore these phrases are also a great reminder that we need to challenge our biases.

This becomes more important in light of recent global events which have created a significant focus for a dialogue on the agenda of equality and fairness by global communities. To achieve this, working with fragmented biases will make the work even more challenging. Ultimately it is every individual's belief system that exerts a far greater influence and therefore creating consistency is critical. Bias presents itself in varying degrees and forms, often in our day to day life manifesting through actions or words. How well do we manage our biases and how does this impact us and our environment? This is a discussion that we willingly need to partake in to mobilise the much required change.

While some of our bias may be explicit it is often the unconscious prejudices that take us unawares. One develops a certain view of the world early in life through our interactions and cultural influences. These opinions if go unchallenged become stronger, embedding themselves deep in our subconscious mind. Addressing the issue of bias at the grass-root level requires courage on our part - firstly to acknowledge its existence and then recognise one's role in endorsing these behaviors. The good news is that one can unlearn certain biases over time through education, self-management, self-awareness, being accepting and maintaining an open-mind.

Also engaging children in these conversations from the start is vital, encouraging a transparent dialogue and showing the future generation how to develop a global and inclusive perspective. Collectively we all can make a difference in ushering the change we and the world seeks.