Sometimes change does not happen through logical arguments, policies and politics. Sometimes it is the heart that needs to listen and not the ear. I invite you to read these words and watch this video through your heart, not your eyes. Please see it with the intent to truly help make a better difference in this world not only by doing our job but by being different, from ourselves and each other. This is what helps us to accept ourselves through the story of the other and then to accept others through their stories, being convinced that it is ok to get older, to experience a health challenge, to come from a different culture, to be of different colour or appearance because we and others were never meant to be the same and we only were meant to be human.
Throughout my life, I have always heard, seen and experienced how stunningly good and bad it feels to be different, and it was always the heart feeling for the story told that made the difference. By appreciating the nature of this rich difference, and sharing the joy and pain, I have known art to be powerful in making us truly absorb facts like that we are equally human. Listening and acting truly reduce the gap we have inside ourselves and in our relations with the other. Lacking the power of self/other acceptance, it is hard to overcome the perception that is delivered by attitudes that only say “you do not belong here”.
This also applies to organisations, as it is what risks losing not only existing staff but also bad word of mouth, a drop in new especial diverse staff numbers and financial revenues. It is crucial now more than ever to look for a deep diversity and not be satisfied with surface diversity defensively by policies and manifestos showing demographic statistics. Deep diversity focuses on genuinely understanding and embracing the difference which is translated into values, attitudes and ultimately behaviours, it starts with each one of us, it starts with you, and it starts with changing your heart!