Have you ever noticed how we celebrate the diversity of the animal kingdom – marveling at the energy of monkeys, the color of birds, the quiet grace of giraffes – but struggle to offer that same appreciation to each other? In this episode, we explore the tension between how naturally we accept difference in animals and how often we resist it in people. From the sidewalks where dogs sniff their way into connection to the deeper wiring of our own nervous systems, we reflect on how instinct, conditioning, and culture shape our reactions to difference … and how we might begin to unlearn them.
We take a gentle look at research on early bias, including the famous “Doll Test” (1) and studies of infant face preference, and pair those insights with a more hopeful truth: our minds and hearts can change. With intention, exposure, and presence, we can train ourselves toward curiosity rather than judgment. And just like dogs don’t expect every other dog to be the same – they simply pause, sniff, and assess – we too can move toward others with a bit more wonder and a lot more grace.
Whether you’re feeling stretched by the diversity around you or simply longing for a more connected world, this episode invites you to ask one disarming question: What kind of animal are they? Not to dismiss difference, but to marvel at it. Because when we remember that we’re part of the natural world, too, we begin to recover a sacred truth – we were never meant to be the same.
Joni Miller, Ph.D. is a writer, researcher, spiritual coach, and speaker who uses her knowledge, education, and love of all things spiritual to help others find their unique spiritual path. www.SpiritualGeography.net
(1) https://www.naacpldf.org/brown-vs-board/significance-doll-test/?
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