A 3-Step Philosophy to Sustainable Living
Sustainability is a broad term that has taken on so many different meanings in today’s world as companies have taken notice of it as a marketing opportunity. The truth is sustainability does at its core mean the ability to maintain something over a long period of time, but it also means balance.
As I first started my sustainable journey years ago, I realized that sustainability means so much more than just the maintenance and prolonging of our world and its natural resources. Rather, it is a state of being and a quest that starts with you. Upon realizing this, I understood why so many people cannot comprehend the idea of a sustainable life, and that is simply because they do not even take the time to care for themselves. How can we expect a person to care about an animal, a tree, or our oceans when they have yet to care about their own emotional, physical, or spiritual well being?
So, all of this to say that the true journey to a sustainable life starts with the self. In order for us to truly care for the planet, we must first care for ourselves. I have developed a three-step process to help you work toward sustainability:
The Self: What is your relationship with yourself? How can you show yourself more care on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level? Invest time in yoga, writing, church, or whatever calls you.
Others: What are your relationships like with other humans? How do you treat people and how do you let them treat you? Take a deep dive using a chart to analyze the flow of energy in your life.
The Planet: Now look at your relationship with the planet. Take time to live in the present. Notice things you didn’t see before. Smell, taste, breathe, and explore the magic of this world.
When you invest time in yourself and show yourself that you care about you, everything in your life will slowly start to change in a positive way. You will notice your relationships will improve, you’ll feel happier, and eventually you will be able to appreciate things you never thought you would. For this reason, I believe that caring about the planet starts with caring about yourself first.
Written by Christina Rae