Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me
No Eco-Tips, Please.
I recently read a report of a study that was done at Georgia State University that said that when confronted with the ideas of climate change and “eco-friendly tips” or “environmentally-friendly living advice”, more people were turned off and less likely to make changes to the way they live.
And I can understand why.
Most websites advocating environmentally-friendly living (including, very often, mine), tell you that your priority should be saving the planet. That YOU are responsible for massive environmental damage and that you need to change your life. Right. Now.
This creates cognitive dissonance and a negative knee-jerk reaction that causes most people to stop listening right there. I can relate. Even I sometimes get that voice in my head saying “GEEZE, I’m not trying to destroy the planet! I’m just living my life like everyone else does. I recycle! I love nature! Besides, it’s the big companies that cause most of the damage anyway. THEY need to change the most! The changes I make are going to be so minor anyway.”
The problem is in the messaging.
Don’t do what I say just because I say so.
Instead, all I ask is that you think about what you value about nature and the environment. What is it about the world or nature that you appreciate and would want to make better? I think I can assume that we all appreciate some part of the natural world.
Maybe you love taking breaths of pure, clean air when you go hiking. Maybe you love the ocean and want a pristine beach when you go for a swim, or sunbathing, or to play with your kids on the beach. Maybe you love wild animals and birds. Or forests and want to protect the Amazon. Maybe you dream of seeing arctic glaciers.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think there is anyone out there who sees pictures of snowcapped mountains, lush forests, or beautiful coral reefs and thinks “I don’t think these are beautiful. I’m okay with destroying these.” Most of us just find ways of fooling ourselves into thinking our behavior doesn’t really have much of an effect, or tell ourselves a story so that we can ignore what is happening.
Have you ever thought, “this is probably bad for the environment, but I’m not sure.” And then chosen not to find out, because if it turns out your actions are bad for the environment, you’d have to feel the need to change? I know I have. I try not to anymore, but if I said I’ve never done it, then I’d be lying. It’s easier to look away, or assume it’s mostly “big, evil corporations.” We choose, even if unconsciously, not to see that we are responsible for at least SOME damage.
Don’t live by my values. Live by yours.
You shouldn’t do what I say, just because I told you to. If you did, that would mean you are living in line with MY values. Instead, ask yourself what you value about nature.
If you value clean air, maybe you could start driving less and take more public transportation or plant some trees. If you value cleaner oceans, you could start doing beach cleanups or try to reduce your plastic waste at home. If you value protecting the rainforest, then maybe you could set up a monthly $1 donation to a cause that is doing so. If you love skiing and want to protect the snow-covered mountains you grew up with, you could reduce your home electricity use to reduce your CO2 emissions and help slow climate change. Find what you value, then do something. Act.
If you’re doing something that supports what you value, you’ll feel good and continue doing it.
I guarantee that if you search within yourself, you will find some part of the natural world that you value. Think back to your childhood: maybe it’s that tree in your backyard you used to love as a kid. Maybe it was the beach you used to visit all the time with your family. Maybe it’s exploring the mountains when you went camping with your family. Usually these thoughts can make us realize what it is about nature that we really love. Then see what you can do to help that part of nature, and do it!
Once you’re doing something to improve the things that you love, you’ll be much more likely to continue to do it than if you were just doing it because some guy on an internet blog told you to.
For many people, they feel like to protect the environment, they have to give up something. But in my personal experience, changing my behavior according to my values has never felt like I lost something in my life. It always feels like I’ve improved. Whether it’s taking more cold showers, picking up trash every day, or refusing to buy any drinks in plastic bottles, it doesn’t feel like I’ve given up something I love. It feels like I’m now just being more honest with myself. Improving things that I truly appreciate and value. Doing it is fun. It’s enjoyable.
I’m not here to tell you how to live your life. Don’t live the life I want you to. My goal is not to make you value the same things that I do. My goal is to help you search within yourself, find what YOU value, then help you to achieve a lifestyle that is more in line with your own values. We all value some part of the world. We all value something in nature. Recognize what it is you appreciate and realize that, no matter what it is, there’s probably a small change you could make to your life to improve that part of the world. And once you start living more in line with your own values, I promise you’ll find a life that is more fulfilling and more joyous. Why? Because it’s the life you want.
Special Note of Thanks
The whole reason I started this environmental blog/YouTube/Eco Store was because I was inspired by Joshua Spodek, a blogger/podcaster, an author, and a motivational speaker on leadership and the environment. I was on the search to become more environmentally friendly in my own life and came across his podcast, Leadership and the Environment, and was inspired by many of his ideas and applied them to my own life. To say that all of the ideas in this blog are entirely my own wouldn’t be entirely truthful. Josh has been an inspiration to me and this blog is more representative of my take on his ideas and how I’ve applied them to my life. So I want to give a personal thank you to Joshua Spodek for inspiring me to act on my own morals and values. If you are interested in my blog and my content, then you certainly will be of his. Please check him out!
To get more Joshua Spodek, you can find him at:
Blog: http://joshuaspodek.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-and-the-environment/id1320141457
TedTalk (One of several, but I recommend them all!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTYiHr1lu10
1 thought on “Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me”
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Point well made and point taken!