The Change Your LENS Framework is an approach to examining your own patterns of beliefs and working to understand others.
What is your LENS?
Your lens is your perspective, shaped by your own culture.
Your lens is your set of expectations about how to act, what to think, and what to value.
When you interact across cultural differences, you are confronted with differing perspectives and
expectations. You may be quick to judge and label others, without realizing your own lens.
What cultures influence your LENS?
Nationality
Region
Gender
Religion
Socio-economic status
Age
Race
Profession
How do you Change your LENS?
Think about a conversation or encounter where you felt confused or frustrated.
L ook objectively & L ist what occurred:
What happened?
Describe it, and take note of judgmental words (i.e., rude, awful, irritating) or stereotypes.
If there is negativity, eliminate judgmental words, and describe the encounter or event objectively.
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E xamine your assumptions & E xplore inside:
Why did you feel the way you did?
What are the expectations, habits, and beliefs that led you to view the encounter or event as you did?
Be introspective and describe your attitudes.
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N ote other possibilities & N udge yourself to grow:
What other values, habits, and beliefs might be at work here?
Be open-minded and curious. Empathize. Retell the story from another person’s perspective. Consider the ways the incident is more complex than you initially realized.
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S ubstantiate with locals & S eek out more:
Is this their truth?
Use your observation, intercultural communication skills, critical thinking skills, and people skills. Ask locals or bicultural people if the new ideas you have generated are accurate, or if there are other parts of the culture you have overlooked.
What else does this make you want to explore? How does this change you and your behaviors, mindsets, and thoughts?
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