How to approach climate change as a sensitive person
In a world filled with alarming headlines and graphic videos that attempt to encourage us to save our planet it is easy to feel overwhelmed, distressed, and defeated. This article will serve as a guide for action, even for those of you who – like me – do not want to cry themselves to sleep thinking about polar bears.
Background

My “climate change paralysis” began when I was only ten years old. Having grown up in an area that placed high value on natural environments (and the protection of those environments), I was shown videos of polar bears drowning, plastic islands, and whale slaughtering beginning in elementary school. Frequently, I would spend time after school crying about the degradation of species and our planet. Still now, I have extremely potent reactions to the idea and effects of climate change. Two things I have learned in this process are: 1. Crying alone in my bedroom is not productive when it comes to saving the planet, and 2. There are things I can do as a sensitive person to be productive and happy. In the segment to follow, I will create a step-by-step guide to get out of your “climate change paralysis”, and take the steps toward helping the planet.
Step 1: Stop Denying

This step may not be what you think, especially with the common use of the term “climate change deniers”. Of course part of it is that. We need to accept climate change exists, and is happening. No, really. I don’t mean we need to think about it (and the polar bears) and get a pumpkin spice latte to make ourselves feel okay about it. I mean we need to think about it like we do anything else that is happening. We know the world is spinning around and around, we look outside and realize it is snowing, raining, or sunny. Climate change needs to be accepted into our lives and our minds as something to work with, and to work around. Oh also, when I say “is happening” I mean now, not in twenty, or a hundred, or however many years feels okay to accept.
Side note: Popular culture portrays climate change as something that is happening slowly, but has not really hit yet. This is wrong. Climate change is happening now. It may not have hit North America in a doomsday type of way, but it has hit some in this way – like the carribean, some areas of Asia and Africa. If you need further information about this, I would be happy to refer you to some.
Step 2: Accept how you feel

People have all sorts of feelings attached to climate change: fear, anger, shame, numbness. These emotions are all valid. Especially considering some of the most fundamental assumptions we ever make – that the birds will chirp in the morning, we will have water come out of our taps, we will breathe air – are under attack. The good news is, our feelings can be our friends just as well as they can be our enemies.We must allow these feelings to exist, and try our best to use them. If they are being too noisy, we need to tell them to back off. Once they are under control, we can let them drive us toward action. I understand this is a very simplistic explanation, for further information you can refer to my other article: “what years of therapy have taught me”.
Step 3: Take control of your life

One of the most frightening aspects of climate change is the feeling of lack of control. This said, climate change is also a reason to take control of our own lives. In integrating small practices like: reducing personal waste, modifying our diets, and buying consciously, we will feel more in control of our lives in general. Using small steps like bringing our own bags to the grocery store, eating less meat, and buying foods that are not covered in plastic, can give our lives a greater sense of purpose. I am by no means saying these things are going to save the planet by themselves, but in becoming aware and facing our everyday practices we can be both efficient for the planet and ourselves, and gain a healthier relationship with climate change.
Step 4: Dare to be different

There is another level to this control: control over our identities. While I understand it is difficult to step outside of our socio-cultural context and question the practices we have grown up with (like consuming lots, and lots of meat, and driving everywhere) but making these changes can actually feel invigorating! The reality is, much of the world has different cultural practices that are less harmful to the planet. One helpful mantra I use in decision -making is “just because it is okay in Western culture, doesn’t mean it’s okay for our planet”.
We live under the deeply ingrained assumption that the west is the best, when really there are lots of things that may have taken a turn for the worst in our culture. Thankfully, as individuals we have the ability to control our own actions (or at least it seems we do). Let’s exercise our autonomy.
Step 4: Do your best, not the best

Just like anything, all we can do in this case is our best. There may be someone that dedicated their life to climate change, which is great but we are also allowed to have other purposes. It is important we ask ourselves which sacrifices we can make given our socio-economic contexts, and the policies in place within our cities, provinces and countries. Why don’t we stop comparing ourselves to others and start focusing on our own practice?
Step 5: Still prioritize happiness

One of the false assumptions we make when it comes to helping the planet is: either the planet is happy, or I am happy. This is fortunately not the case. Our minds tell us we want MORE, and that we want the fastest and most convenient option, but recent studies on happiness have taught us the simple life is the happier life (see more in Dr. Laurie Santos’ work and elsewhere). In addition to this, things what we think will make us happy, often tend to do the opposite.
Let’s shift into focusing small. Learning to appreciate washing the dishes, talking to our neighbours, and growing our own basil may just be the way to go! Obviously the amount of time you are able to put into the shift heavily depends on your current lifestyle, so start small!
Written by: Shanti Thurber