“Sustainability” has turned into a buzz word now-a-days but it has many different faces. Living a “sustainable” lifestyle looks expensive, chic, and “all the rage” or it can be portrayed as some hippie nonsense of not showering, eating raw diets, and curing everything with coconut oil (coconut oil is NOT medicine, people). In the end, it all boils down to the same thing: doing better. You are doing better for yourself and the planet. Sustainability is something different for everyone. To me, there is so much more to sustainability than just reducing waste. Although that is extremely important (to me especially), it is not everything. In addition to environmental sustainability, there is personal sustainability. In order to truly live your best life, you have to make sure YOU are sustainable as well. Without taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of others or our planet and its fellow inhabitants. Here’s my take on it all.
Personal sustainability is just as important, if not more important, than environmental sustainability. Before you can even start to change the world, you have to be happy with where you are and what you are doing. The changes that help you get there should be the first ones you focus on. What do I mean by personal sustainability? I’m talking about happiness, health, and overall wellbeing. Within personal sustainability there can be countless categories: relationship sustainability, career sustainability, financial sustainability, etc. These are the pillars of a good life. And that’s what it’s all about: leading a life that you find enjoyable and satisfying.
Environmental sustainability is extremely important. That is the driving force behind the #lowwaste movement and how I got started in all of this. The sustainability of our planet is of the utmost importance. Earth is a fixed habitat. It doesn’t get any bigger or better just because we need it to. We are borrowing this planet from future generations and must maintain its resources and health so they too may live happily on this planet as we are today. Diversity and ecosystem health aren’t just something that is “right” to maintain, it’s a necessity.
For me, these two concepts of sustainability are closely linked. It may not be like that for everyone. Supporting environmental sustainability is a big part of who I am and brings me unmeasurable joy. Being wasteful does the opposite. And it is because of this that I am so focused on both.
I have a pretty good idea of what it all means to me, and I invite you to discover what sustainability means to you. Here are some questions to ask yourself that might help you get started.
1) What are the top three things that bring you immense joy?
2) What are the top three things that are toxic to your well-being (physically, emotionally, or spiritually)?
After you have explored these two very important questions, move on.
3) Of the things that bring you joy; how often do you actively make time for them? Do you prioritize them in your life?
If you do, that’s excellent! Some things may be easier to prioritize than others but that doesn’t mean the harder items should be ignored. If they are in your top three, they must be pretty important and deserve a little more time than you are probably giving them. Make a game plan on how to prioritize some of these things. You don’t have to do it all at once! That could be a bit overwhelming but mapping out a plan will give you guidance.
4) Of the things that are toxic to your well-being; how are you letting these things come into your life? How can you get rid of them?
This is a big one and may be the most important question to reflect on. If these things came to mind, they are actively draining your well-being. I bet you have noticed them before. I am guilty of quietly pushing them into the shadows only for them to reappear when I find myself dull, anxious, and moody. It’s not until you actively confront these demons (whether it be a toxic relationship, an impeding deadline, bad sleeping habits, or unhealthy lifestyle choices) that you will be able to fully address them and get rid of them FOR GOOD. This also requires a plan of attack. I would argue that ridding yourself of these heavy weights is the most important part of this process. When they are gone, or even under control, there is a boost in energy and a confidence that appears that wasn’t there before. It empowers you and fuels your motivation to progress in other aspects of your life like focusing on the things that bring you joy.
Now that you have discovered what your definition of sustainability is for you, I hope you can bring your beautiful self to your full potential and inspire the world just as you are meant to. The trick to all of this, and true mastery, is being able to go beyond your own sustainability to foster that of others’ whether it be another person’s or even our planet’s.
I hope this exercise helped! Feel free to reach out with any questions or critiques.
Sustainability is our responsibility.
Love,
Jaky