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FOR THE LOVE OF

SUSTAINABLE SELF

THIS IS FOR YOU

If you’ve found your way to this page of resources for the first time, this is a message to you.

The person trying their hardest with the tools they have been given to be a force for good in the world. A person who does things that might seem strange, weird, gross or out of the ordinary in the name of sustainability. You are a lover of people, planet, animals, and living a life that’s streamlined to focus on the things you really care about.

Your efforts to do good for people and the planet are tireless. There are days when you wonder if there’s any point. If anyone really cares. If the things you do matter. You might doubt yourself. Feel tired. At worst- you might get eco-overwhelmed or burnt out.

This message is a reminder.

What you do matters.

That big changes start from paradigm shifts in self. Changing the way you think, feel, or perceive the world around you to act in thoughtful new ways. Sometimes on the surface, mindful reflection can look like in action. We might be fearful that this time we take for our Sustainable Self is accomplishing little. But each time we stop, reflect, and recharge our batteries, we make space for greater insight and understanding.

We reinvigorate our why, take stock of what we are grateful for, and move forward with clarity and purpose.

You are invited to make space for you.

For the love of Sustainable Self.

Now take a moment to pause, breathe deep, and allow your shoulders to drop away from your ears. Feeling better already? 

Let’s get ready for Sustainable Self exploration with love and focus.

Katie

Musings: On Worth

Sometimes- like those dust bunnies that hide under our beds- the corners of our minds can get a little cluttered without our awareness.

A little way back towards the start of the year, a not-so-friendly social media interaction held a mirror to the back corners of my mind. The reflection illuminated (in amongst the location of socks long lost) a block that’s been rolling around in the dark for some time.

This block, which I’ve shared with some (specifically those who have attended my face-to-face workshops) was one of childhood bullying and it’s been silently crippling me for my whole life.

Self-inquiry is a key part of yogic living. Many hours my meditation cushion has held my butt and brain in place to contemplate my ‘why’s’. One massive ‘why’ was my fear of success, an odd fear to hold but seemingly the root cause of all my procrasTEAnation.

PROCRASTEANATION.
NOUN. THE ACTION OF DELAYING OR POSTPONING SOMETHING BY DRINKING TOO MUCH HERBAL TEA. 
Soul Laid Bare
Long story short to save you from the boredom of dust busting my brain- the bullying experiences of my childhood had me wanting to bring my best to the world, but stopping short of putting myself out there for fear of being cut down. While an adult knows that there are boundaries and laws put in place to stop stalking, harassment, and physical assault. Children, especially those who were kids when bulling wasn’t policed by schools, weren’t always afforded that luxury.

This life long self-sabotage looked, for me, as a tendency to quit before any large-scale recognition of achievements. Public praise, awards and financial recognition have long been things that I’ve consciously and subconsciously avoided. A life of laboriously painting my own Sistine Chapel and then draping curtains to strategically cover the ceiling before inviting anyone over to visit. Hiding in my own little island of a lack of self worth I committed to achieving but not celebrating. Being a subconscious martyr to the idea that a life worth living is one of service and giving not celebration and receptivity.

The idea of giving and not receiving and lack of self-worth is prevalent rhetoric in the sustainability movement. We are urged to give back, be selfless, take less, share more, and most importantly- to not ‘want’ or ‘desire’ those things deemed frivolous or consumerist.

Our mindsets are dialled to fear and lack by media. A cycle that is hard to break free from. We wonder, in our own little dust-bunny filled corners of our minds, if we are worthy as a species of the home that we are seemingly destroying.

A new student to a course in miracles. A passage (page 63 section 7) leapt off the page at me and it went a little something like this (I’ve adapted to take the pseudo-religious edge off)

“The habit to live a conscious and connected life is easily made if you actively refuse to let your mind slip away.  The problem is not one of concentration; it is the belief that no one, including yourself is worth consistent effort”.

We can be lead, by our minds, the world around, or a combination of both, that we are separate from the system that we rely on. That in some way-shape-or-form our ego lets us be ‘apart’ from nature. This is the same sense that makes us believe we can actually throw or give things away. When we slip from being mindful that we aren’t on top of a planet, we are part of it. Reliant on the ecosystems that it provides. We slip from the idea that we aren’t making a significant impact on it. There is a quote attributed to Buddha and plastered on many Yoga Studio walls that states:

The mind is everything

What we think we become
This is true. Our perceptions of the World around us are exactly that- our truth via sensual perceptions. We use our senses, brains and body parts  (including our digestive systems) to take the outside world in every day and make sense of it for our own use. When we concentrate daily on this idea that we are making the world around us in both our interpretations of the world and the way that we interact with it, we can start to see where we receive, what we give, and how our consistent efforts to do both these actions can occur in Sustainable Style.

By understanding our self worth, in our ecosystem. We can consciously make efforts to give better, receive more and allow ourselves reprieve from the doom and gloom that is our media channels.

Here are three self-worth queries for you today:

What do I give?

How do I receive?

What do I fear?

Contemplate these three questions in your own time and then add the enquiry:

How do I give sustainably?

How can I receive sustainably?

Can I carry fear sustainably?

When considering the set of questions above you will have to contemplate what sustainability means to you, an exercise that will require you to reflect on your interpretation of the world around you. There are no right or wrong answers, only new learning’s and new questions.

Such is the joy of contemplating sustainability!

FOR THE LOVE OF SUSTAINABLE SELF

This post is your part of our  ‘For the Love of Sustainable Self’ content. If you love it, click the ‘back’ button tfor more information about what Sustainable Self is, and how you can use the tools we have available to take a holistic approach to self-responsibility and support when living life in sustainable style.

SHORTCUTS

To other content in our ‘For the Love of Sustainable Self’ series. 

LEARN WHAT SUSTAINABLE SELF is

What does Sustainable Self really mean? Is it all about pampering yourself with bubble baths? Is it a marketing buzz term? Or is it a considered and holistic approach to living life in Sustainable Style minus the eco-overwhelm? Sustainable Self is….Keep Reading

PERSONALISE YOUR NOTEBOOK FOR REFLECTION

Many of our tools for living life in Sustainable Style minus the eco-overwhelm involve mindful reflection- which can be helpfully done using a handy notebook! We’ve got a popular Make post that shows you how to personalise your notebook with a fabric cover…. Keep Reading

MAKE YOUR OWN NATURAL BEAUTY CONCOCTIONS

While our Sustainable Self can’t be happy, healthy, and whole from a makeover or a foot-soak, these DIY beauty tricks might be ideas to trial when you experience mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual fatigue, stress or exhaustion...Keep Reading.

CONTEMPLATING SELF-WORTH AND SUSTAINABILITY

This musing from our founder Katie is an open and honest exploration of self-worth and sustainability. This post is shared to help others consider taking a deep dive into their psyche to understand better how our past can open doors or create gridlocks...Keep Reading

30 Ways you Can CHANGE THE WORLD (CHEAPLY)

Does your budget prevent you from taking action in Sustainable Style? Eco-switches can seem expensive or inaccessible. Especially if you’re on a student budget, live in a rented home, or struggle to pay your bills on time, however they can be affordable… Keep Reading

PROGRESSION OF SUSTAINABLE SELF OVER TIME

Sustainable self isn’t static. As we move through, our life change is inevitable. To be responsible citizens of earth, critical thought, mindful reflection, and self-assessment are essential for change in the right direction. This means continually…Keep Reading

OUR FREE MAGAZINE

Have you seen our monthly magazine ‘Live Life in Sustainable Style’?

It’s the comprehensive monthly highlight of the suite of tools we have designed to help simplify sustainability so you can take action on the things you care about (minus the eco-overwhelm). The content ties together our ‘Take Action’ focus theme. In a fast-paced media-saturated landscape, we hope that this way of sharing will provide you access to all our useful tools, without feeling lost or overwhelmed. Each month the latest copy of the magazine and our most recent resources are sent to your inbox (you will only receive one email a month from us). You will get reminders via our social media channels of what content we’re championing throughout the month.

We hope that you enjoy getting your Sustainable Style fix in this easy-to-read format and that it gives you a break from the abundance of social media updates and overflowing inboxes we now navigate daily

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