Life can get somewhat overwhelming sometimes. It might be challenging to keep going when that happens, and you might start to feel detached. But, it is not a feeling we would appreciate, be it detached from nature or yourself. However, it is ok to feel that way. You manage your busy schedule, not having much time to focus on yourself and your surroundings. Then, on your way home, you hear or read news about climate change moving faster than was previously anticipated; or about yet another species going extinct. The pressure is on, but how to be more eco-conscious while managing a busy lifestyle? Read below and be inspired.
The road to eco-conscious lifestyle
Step 1: All we see is nature in disguise
Becoming more eco-conscious all starts with dedicating some time to your thoughts. It can be challenging to find time for that, or it might feel scary to dive into your consciousness, but it is the best way to discover more about yourself. You can always start small. Take baby steps and maybe dedicate two minutes to your thoughts while brushing your teeth or going grocery stores.
Start looking around and seeing things for what they are. Even if you live in a big city, you are still surrounded by nature. Everything around you comes from nature itself: even plastic and artificial materials.
Your wooden diner table used to be a tree, your plastic water bottle was once petroleum, and your t-shirt technically comes from a plant. Once you realize those bits, you will start seeing things differently. It might then come naturally to reduce your waste or change your shopping habits.
Finding inspiration in nature
Step 2: Symbiosis
After realizing that all things surrounding you come from nature, you may also feel a deeper appreciation for them. How amazing is it that the environment offers us so many opportunities? It gives us appliances, shade, air, water, food, shelter, protection, and it gives us all we have. And it does so in a very undemanding way, not asking for anything in return. So a thought arising to my mind is that maybe we took all those things for granted and gradually forgot what it meant to live in symbiosis with other living organisms.
Yet, you will see the rest of nature living in symbiosis when you look around. For example, I am sure you have heard of the clownfish. Clownfish are highly territorial little coral fish that reside within the sea anemones. Sea anemones are coelenterates with round mouths, surrounded by stinging tentacles. And those two sea species have, throughout the years, developed the perfect relationship. The anemone provides clownfish with protection and shelter, and it receives nutrients and a protector. So for humans to strive, we need to find a way to co-exist with nature successfully and each other, learn how to do so, and take inspiration by simply observing how different species live.
Reflection and action
Step 3: Reflecting on our behavior
Once you sail through the first two steps, you will be ready to move forward. It will be time to observe your behaviors and evaluate them. You will have acquired a lot of wisdom and knowledge about how the environment works and what might be harmful to it.
Sometimes, leading a life that is not eco-conscious might be incredibly comfortable. But are you satisfied with the thought of animals dying due to your actions? Options surround us, and sometimes we might lose the sense of what is right and wrong. The more species we save from extinction, the brighter our future will be in the long term.
It was not so long ago that I realisedd that we must appreciate that we are part of the natural world. Without a healthy planet, we, as humankind, cannot strive and expect to be healthy ourselves. The pandemic only supported my thoughts. Learn some tips for an eco-friendly lifestyle in my next blog post.
If you like this blog post, you will enjoy another one we wrote for you. Follow the link below to access it:
https://www.yogacirce.com/2021/07/12/how-to-live-more-eco-friendly
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