UNDERSTANDING HATE THROUGH THE LENS OF SELF-AWARENESS
5 min read
Photo by Peter Bryan // Unsplash
Racism is something many people encounter in different ways and at different moments in life. As a Southeast Asian woman who has lived in several countries and travelled widely throughout my life, I have encountered these moments in many places. Some were obvious. Other times they appeared through subtle gestures, comments, or assumptions that linger long after the moment has passed.
Experiences like these often leave a question behind. “WHY DOES RACISM EXIST?“
For a long time I assumed it had something to do with intelligence, I believed people who carried hateful ideas simply had not taken the time to think deeply. The more I studied psychology and reflected on human behaviour, the more I began to see something different.
Racism may have less to do with intelligence and more to do with awareness and consciousness.
When people have not yet learned to examine their own fears, assumptions, and projections, those emotions can easily move outward. Understanding ourselves is one of the most important parts of personal growth. It may also be one of the most meaningful ways we contribute to our collective mental health.
THE SHADOW WITHIN
Psychologist Carl Jung described something called the shadow.
The shadow represents the parts of ourselves we tend not to look at closely.
Feelings like insecurity, fear, resentment, or moments when we feel small or uncertain.
Every human being carries these parts. They are simply part of the human experience.
When we learn to notice them, we gain insight into ourselves. When they remain unseen, the mind sometimes pushes them outward.
Instead of recognizing difficult feelings within, the psyche may attach them to something outside of us.
Jung called this process projection.
Photo by Alyona Boldynjuk // Unsplash
Hatred rarely grows from deep self-understanding.
It often grows where reflection has not yet begun.
When the shadow moves outward
Projection is a natural human tendency. When we feel discomfort or uncertainty, it can be easier to place those feelings somewhere else rather than examine them closely. Sometimes those emotions become attached to groups of people who appear different from us. What begins as an inner experience slowly turns outward.
Looking at racism through this lens does not excuse it. Instead, it helps us understand how powerful unexamined emotions can become. Hatred rarely grows from deep self-knowledge. More often it grows where reflection has not yet taken root.
Awareness changes the direction
Self-awareness invites us to pause and look inward.
It encourages questions like:
Where did this belief come from?
Why does this situation trigger such a strong reaction in me?
What feelings might be sitting underneath this moment?
That kind of reflection opens space.
Fear begins to soften.
Curiosity begins to appear.
Empathy becomes possible.
From this perspective, racism begins to look less like an issue of intelligence and more like a question of consciousness and reflection.
What the brain shows us
Neuroscience adds another layer to this conversation. The brain is designed to recognize patterns quickly. This ability once helped humans notice what was familiar and what was unfamiliar. Part of the brain reacts very quickly to new situations, sometimes before our reflective thinking has time to catch up. Yet the brain is also remarkably adaptable.
Experiences, relationships, and reflection can reshape how we respond to the world around us. Empathy strengthens with exposure. Understanding grows through connection.
Self-awareness is not only philosophical. It also influences how the brain learns and adapts.
The pull of belonging
Human beings naturally look for places where they feel they belong. Community, shared identity, and connection can be powerful sources of meaning.
Sometimes, when people feel uncertain about their place in the world, they are drawn toward groups that offer clear identities and simple explanations. These stories can divide the world into sides. They promise clarity in moments that feel confusing.
Recognizing this pattern helps us understand how powerful the need for belonging can be. It also reminds us how important it is to build communities rooted in curiosity and compassion.
Information + influence
Photo by Alessio Rinella // Unsplash
Ideas travel quickly now. Messages that spark strong emotions often move the fastest, especially when they are repeated inside close communities on social media.
Pausing to ask simple questions can change how we interact with information.
Where did this message come from? Check the source
What feeling is it trying to trigger? Notice emotional cues
What perspective might be missing? Consider other viewpoints
That small moment of reflection strengthens awareness.
Awareness and collective mental health
Looking inward is not always comfortable, but it is one of the most meaningful things we can do. When people become more aware of their own thoughts and emotions, they are less likely to project those feelings onto others.
Reflection creates space.
Empathy grows in that space.
This idea sits at the heart of MNSTR Skate. Understanding ourselves helps us show up more thoughtfully in the world around us.
Self-awareness does not just change the individual.
It strengthens the collective.