I firmly believe that most of us would agree with the following statements:
+ Sustainability is important.
+ We should all make better buying choices.
+ Our lifestyle does have an influence on society and the environment.
Problem no. 1: When ideals meet reality. Sure, it would be great, if we could all live in eco-homes, eat organic food, read and understand all and every ingredient list, buy high-quality slow fashion, recycle everything, produce zero waste, use shared services, live in clutterless homes, while also being productive 24/7, raising kids and realizing our career dreams at the same time. But then shit hits the fan, we get slapped with difficulties and challenges, and the ideals get drown in a sea of practical problems.
Problem no. 2: When it all gets too overwhelming. The more I try to lead a mindful life and try to make conscious choices, the more I realize I desperately lack the following expertise: dietary, medical, biological, financial, cosmetic scientific, environmentalist, sociologist. Even with a seemingly simple topic, I can easily find two case studies or expert advice with totally opposite viewpoints. It’s no wonder we give up, because it’s just too much.
Problem no. 3: When we feel we are being judged for our lifestyles. You know, some people and organizations with otherwise commendable goals and values really just take it too far. PETA activists attacking people for wearing fur. Vegans going on about how eating animals equals murder. Fans of sustainable fashion judging people who shop at Zara. Minimalists playing a numbers game and belittling others if they have more than 2 pairs of shoes. This is of course an exaggeration, and doesn’t apply to everyone. But there is a vocal minority. Living with and by ideals is great and something I do aspire for. But an aggressive missionary approach can have just the reverse effect. People don’t like to be judged for how they live and will understandably get defensive, or even hostile if they encounter heavy criticism. There is a huge difference (which is also sometimes a thin line) between helping and judging.
Problem no. 4: We feel we are too small to make significant change, so we stop bothering at all.
So, if this whole conscious consumption, mindful living, eco-friendly lifestyle thing just gets too daunting, remember just one thing.
It’s not an all or nothing game.
We don’t have to transform every single aspect in our lives. Small changes DO matter. At the very least, it can matter to us.
- It matters what we eat, because it can make us healthy or ill.
- It matters what we know, because some companies would just sell us everything and anything and it’s hard to see through the cloud.
- It matters what we buy, because we can get crap for that hard-earned money.
- It matters how we live, because we only get to do it once.
- And yes, it matters to a whole range of wider issues, like the environment. Even the biggest army consists of only individuals.
So, let’s just take it easy. Do what you can. Do the research, make choices, but don’t sweat it. Concentrate on (and feel good about) the things you do well, and not the things you still could or should do. And don’t give a shit about what others say.
I’m not perfect. I care about the environment, recycle, avoid plastic and still drive everyday. I try to shop less, and occasionally still do a senseless haul. I eat meat, but I don’t eat fast food. I shop at Everlane and at Zara. I try to be open and educate myself.
This blog itself is a journey. It’s mainly my journey towards a more intentional lifestyle, with all the small wins and bumps along the way. The “you” I frequently use in my posts, mostly refers to me. It’s not about me declaring some hard truth and expecting everyone else to follow suit. But it is about a desire to at least try to be more intentional.
It’s still better to be at the beginning of a journey, making detours, or even going back some steps, then not starting at all.
oh I agree so much with this! I think (almost) everyone at PETA take it too far especially with their social media posts and responses. Same goes for many vegans. It pushed me farther away from their cause. If I didn’t care for my health which has mad me transition to a plant based diet, I would never care what any vegan has to say. I think my experience with these interactions has made me more conscious about my own approach. I’d hate to judge anyone who lives different than I do. Not every one can afford to buy high quality organic producrs like I do and they shouldn’t be judged for that because I understand how counterintuitive that is.
I am even more aware now as I transition to minimalism and understand that owning 100 things in total is just not my thing. I am defining my own minimalism and that’s amazing for me!