Courageous Conversations: Reflecting Difference Around the Dinner Table
Words like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become lightning rods, but the heart of those conversations is deeply human.
It's about how we see each other, how we listen, and how we raise the next generation to be more compassionate than the last. In a culture where DEI has been politicized, many families feel hesitant to even talk about differences. But here’s the truth: Difference isn’t the enemy. Ignoring it is. Whether it’s culture, race, disability, gender identity, or lived experience, acknowledging our differences is the first step toward meaningful connection.
These Conversations Start at Home
The most powerful lessons often begin around the dinner table, in the car, or during everyday life. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 alludes to the power of those small conversations with your family. You don’t have to be a sociologist or therapist to talk about differences. You just have to be willing to listen, ask questions, and grow alongside your kids, friends, or community members.
Difference Isn’t Deficiency
We all come from somewhere. Our identities are shaped by faith, history, culture, and family. For some, that includes privilege; for others, hardship. Understanding that doesn’t require guilt, it requires humility. And it opens the door to deeper empathy and stronger relationships, even when we disagree.
Scripture offers quiet encouragement here, too: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself..." (Leviticus 19:34, NIV). These are not new ideas. They’ve always been part of what it means to live in community.
Strategize Your Success
At Tactical Counseling, we believe that difference is not something to fix, it’s something to understand. Whether you're wrestling with your own story or wanting to create space for others, therapy can be a powerful place to reflect, unlearn, and grow.
Resources for Further Reflection:
- • Diversity Is Difficult – Boston University
- • National Center for PTSD Provider Self-Care Toolkit - Department of Veteran Affairs
- • DEI Guide for Parent Involvement – PTO Today
- • Valuable Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Resources! - New York State Office of Children and Family Services
- • 7 Challenging DEI Conversation Topics and How to Have Them – Connecticut Children’s