A general search on Google for ‘sustainability’ doesn’t provide much insight into answering this question.
It seems as though it pops up so much these days we’ve begun to assume everyone understands what it means, and therefore we’ll just provide boring information that people will have to trawl through and try and make some sense.
What does it mean to you to live sustainably? If you don’t know exactly to answer this question, perhaps you want to read the article, “Why would you start to live sustainably?”
The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as “… forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
When you understand why you would want to live sustainably, you then start to consider what it looks like.
You may get a solar rebate from the government, so you start by buying some solar panels and, after a few months you receive your discounted electricity bill. This may be the catalyst for you to take the next step. But you’re not quite sure what that is.
The way we see it, sustainability equals resilience. When something is sustainable, it lasts. It continues on, with health and vitality. A resilient planet Earth will support the healthy growth and nourishment of generations to come.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when you are considering ways in which you may live more sustainability and resiliently:
What personal systems or methods can I develop, which reflect my compassion for the environment?
This may provide answers like: find ways to conserve electricity, use cleaning products that contain only natural ingredients, buy quality products that last.
How do I make choices that place my sustainability first?
You may answer: learn stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga, start a simple, gentle exercise regimen, have a massage once a month, learn to cook one new healthy meal per week for six weeks.
How do I make more sustainable choices around food?
Answers may include: cook and eat more at home, eat less meat, eat more whole foods and less processed foods, eat organic foods, read labels on food at the supermarket (so you increase awareness around what is actually inside packaged foods).
How do I teach my children to live sustainably?
The strongest answer to this question is to start doing it yourself. Your children will live as you live, because you are their greatest role model and teacher. When they see you respecting you, your environment and the planet, they will do the same. Simply by living this way you teach your children self-respect, by respecting the planet.
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