Here I am in jury duty, where the entire emphasis is on being unbiased, open-minded and fair. From a place of authenticity, I keep feeling the thought arise: Can anyone really be unbiased?

My intuition simply tells me: “No.” We can try our human best, but our perspective is shaped by our particular life experiences and the way we choose to see the world — our intention to see it as friendly or scary, war-ridden or peaceful, full of abundance or starving from lack. Do we see it as a stable planet or on its way to extinction?

Contrasting views

In personal-growth terms, it’s usually a good thing to know what we prefer and don’t prefer. What we feel and don’t feel. What topics push our buttons as well as what personal characteristics offer us the best chance of personal fulfillment. That is the stuff of authentic self expression and personal brilliance. As Abraham-Hicks says, contrast is what inspires us to be creators. We see where balance is needed and we create to fill that need. We see where injustice exists and we are motivated to address it.

Diverse lens of reality

Lots of people think they are unbiased and then express very firm views of what is what. I know because I can be very opinionated myself. We humans typically see life and life events through the veil of our particular experience of reality. A victim is going to see life greatly colored by a lens of powerlessness. A narcissist will perceive what conspires through their distorted lens. A doer may see the world through a lens of action items, while an optimist will find the good that exists to appreciate.

The more we accept that we see the world through a totally unique lens, the more we can release the need to impose that perspective on others, who have their own reality lens. Once we understand that reality isn’t one thing, we can investigate and explore the differences without needing to argue about it. So if I’m asked by a lawyer if I can be unbiased, is there any accurate answer but “I’m not sure?”

Expand consciousness

Personal growth types, like me, aim to expand consciousness and to release the strangle hold of the ego mind. I want to be more reasoned and objective, calm and considerate of other views, because that seems to benefit the greatest number of people. I think of Nelson Mandela as I write this. He could embrace a wider, less personal, perspective because he understood that it served the greatest good of all. That’s a great example to be inspired by.

Learning from other perspectives

We can learn a lot by being able to listen to other perspectives. People wouldn’t be buying millions of self-help books if they didn’t appreciate that their current viewpoint needed an adjustment or a tweak now and again. We appreciate that shifting our perspective can stretch our potential and increases the quotient of happiness we may feel.

So strike a “bias balance” to empower your personal growth and to operate from your best self. Know yourself, your preferences, your strengths, your life lens. Be aware when bias helps inspire you to new creativity and when it is blocking your ability to help others. Challenge yourself to look beyond your natural horizon, to see things in new ways, to appreciate other perspectives and to walk that proverbial mile in someone else’s shoes. That’s what anyone who sits in a jury is called on to do. And, all we can do is our best.