Blog Post By: Dr.Shweta Verma*
If you believe that change starts with you,
If you believe that building a better world is not something that is only the job of others,
Then, may I recommend the following 5 things that you can bring into your daily life to build a diversity-respecting world:
1. Pause
Before you react to something entirely on the basis of how only you feel about it, pause. Before you say something only to vent out, pause. Before you repeat what you have already said 1000 times, pause. Pause and reflect on the purpose your reaction, words, and actions serve. It is okay stop unless it is for someone’s well-being. Pause and review.
Here is a resource for your help:
2. Check, Test, and Challenge Your Opinions
There may be many things that we already know. But there may be more that we don’t know. Let’s be open to possibilities, to all the things that may be there but we may not know. Let’s be open to discovery while challenging our own opinions. Let’s look at what is being presented to us as data and then let’s look beyond that data as well. Here is an important resource for you to re-look at your own thoughts.
3. Discover
There are things, people, and places that you will come across by chance. Make time and effort to know more about all those. But an equally important task is to go on a discovery. Explore and search for answers to questions such as:
How to manage your own judgments? How to help children with empathy? How to build inclusive schools? Who can recycle things that I have at home? How can I adopt a more sustainable lifestyle? What is mental health? What is anxiety? What is depression? What is OCD? What is schizophrenia? Where can I upskill via online courses? Which storybooks teach diversity? Where can i donate my resources to build a better world?
4. Spread the word about Good things
If there are good initiatives that focus on building a better world, and you know about them- then why not talk about them? and write about them? It takes many people to change the world. Let’s add more power to all good initiatives. Explore today something that is happening in your locality or neighborhood.
5. Stop talking about Diversity as the ‘In-thing’. Take action instead
These days, when the conversation begins on diversity and inclusion, many have started expressing fatigue with the term- as if this is something that happens too much and too often.
But does it mean that there is nothing more for you to learn? Are we getting ‘tired’ already with the conversation on things that we have barely achieved? Let’s start taking action in daily life. Being kind and nice is one thing. But it is not all that you can do. Familiarity may make us feel safe. But diversity can help us grow and innovate. Nurture relationships with people that you consider different from you. Know more about them, and build genuine friendships.
Let’s pause and hold those reactions when one uses the term- Diversity, Empathy, and Inclusion. Let’s get back to point 1!
About Ginny’s Planet:
Ginny’s Planet is a social enterprise Co-founded by Dr. Shweta Verma in 2019. The brand runs on the core value of helping our teachers and parents to teach their children to become independent, smart and better leaders by equipping them with a deep understanding of empathy, diversity, disability and inclusion. Dr. Shweta and the team design events, workshops and products to help guardians & schools to develop kids’ mindset and evolve as adaptive and flexible human beings. They work with schools to organise workshops for children and teachers.
Shop – Ginny’s Planet (ginnysplanet.com)
*Dr. Shweta Verma: CEO of Ginny’s Planet. She is a social work professional with experience in disability rights & mental health field. She conceptualised Ginny and is part of the team that evolves Ginny as a character. She has led several workshops with children and NGO workers on empathy.