“Successfully functioning in a society with diverse values, traditions and lifestyles requires us to have a relationship to our own reactions rather than be captive of them. To resist our tendencies to make right or true, that which is nearly familiar, and wrong or false, that which is only strange.”
In this quote, Robert Kegan highlights the importance of being open-minded and self-aware in a diverse society. He emphasizes the need for individuals to break free from their natural inclination to label things as right or wrong based on familiarity alone. By urging readers to develop a relationship with their own reactions, Kegan suggests that it is essential for personal growth and understanding to embrace the unfamiliar rather than dismiss it. This quote serves as a reminder to constantly challenge our own perspectives and biases in order to truly coexist harmoniously in a multicultural world.
In today's increasingly diverse world, Robert Kegan's words ring true more than ever. It is essential for us to acknowledge and understand our own biases and reactions towards unfamiliar cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles in order to coexist harmoniously with others. By resisting the temptation to immediately dismiss what is different as wrong or false, we can open ourselves up to new perspectives and enrich our own lives.
"Successfully functioning in a society with diverse values, traditions and lifestyles requires us to have a relationship to our own reactions rather than be captive of them. To resist our tendencies to make right or true, that which is merely familiar, and wrong or false, that which is only strange." - Robert Kegan
In order to successfully navigate a society with diverse values, traditions, and lifestyles, it is important to have a relationship with our own reactions. This means being aware of and reflecting on our initial judgments and biases, rather than being controlled by them. Here are some reflection questions to help deepen our understanding of this concept:
“Frustration is a function of our expectations, and our expectations are often a reflection of the social mirror rather than our own values & priorities”
“Such a simple concept, yet so true: that which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.”
“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
“What's more, the kaleidoscopic blend of gender-variant and gender-typical traits that characterizes gay people is exactly what enables us to make our own unique contributions to society. It's the reason that we should be valued, celebrated, and welcomed into society rather than merely being tolerated. The aim should be to foster acceptance of gay people as we are, in all our rich diversity and not to seek acceptance by shoe-horning ourselves into conformity with the straight majority.”
“That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.”