What Everyone Gets Wrong When It Comes to the Environment
I think there’s a common misconception about being ‘green’. It’s pervasive, influential, demoralising, but also untrue. It’s the idea that being eco-friendly means that you have to suffer. Like letting go of that second holiday that requires the long distance flight; getting the smaller car instead of the flashy big one; having to remember to bring your own bags to the store; buying local from the organic farm shop instead of getting everything from the supermarket; or not getting that phone upgrade because you’re existing phone works just fine.
I’m not at all saying that these are things you shouldn’t do. What I’m really questioning is the idea that this counts as suffering. If we look a bit closer, what do we find? Often, I think, what we find is deep and entrenched consumerism. The idea that bigger is better, more stuff is better than less stuff, spending more money is better than saving. Basically it’s the idea that we’re here on this planet to buy stuff, spend money, and then die.
Most of us are already suffering. We’re overworked, depressed, and sick. And buying things isn’t the answer. How many of you can remember a time when you craved some new item? Maybe a new car, a new piece of clothing, or a new gadget. You were convinced that this thing was going to make you so happy - if you could just have it, you’d feel good. And what really happened? If you’re anything like me, you felt good for all of about 30 minutes, until the pleasure wore off and you felt empty again.
I truly believe that this void so many of us feel, this emptiness that niggles away at us, can only be filled with a connection to the natural world.
When we get out in nature we can feel at peace. We can feel at one with the world around us. We realise that we are a part of the intricate web of life that makes up this gorgeous, breath-taking, colossal planet. We’re no longer just individuals floating around in a sea of meaninglessness — suddenly we’re an inextricable fibre in the fabric of life.
When you truly feel this connection, being ‘eco-friendly’ no longer feels like an obligation, but a privilege. To play your part in sustaining life on Earth feels so natural, and ultimately you find that you’ve gained so much more than you ever gave up.
INHERITED is a tri-annual independent magazine on a mission to help our readers cultivate a radically spiritual connection to Mother Earth.
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