We notice what feels relevant to “us.” Similarity sharpens attention; distance dulls it. This isn’t malice… it’s efficiency. Your mind allocates resources where payoff has historically been highest. The problem is that this shortcut doesn’t stay neutral. Over time, it shapes what changes you detect, whose mistakes stand out, and which stories feel plausible. When attention systematically favors the familiar, blind spots become patterns. Those patterns can quietly support bias without conscious intent. The antidote isn’t guilt. It’s deliberate expansion of relevance. You don’t need to attend to everything… just to question why some things never make the cut. Try this: notice one situation where you’re quick to spot change in people like you and slow with others. That gap is adjustable.
