Why Sustainability & Self-Love Go Hand in Hand
Sustainability and self-love are two topics that most would think couldn’t possibly be related to one another. But as it turns out, there are a lot of ways that they can compliment one another.
This blog post is lightly based on both parts 1 & 2 of the podcast interview I did with my friend Sarah @sassyandsustainable. If you missed my last blog post, which was based exclusively on our first podcast episode of the two-part discussion, you can find it here.
A key theme that came up often in our conversation on sustainability was how it can be so easy to be hard on ourselves when going through transitions. In the initial stages of our sustainability journeys, Sarah and I both made the mistakes of feeling guilt for not “doing enough yet”, and of focusing too much on labelling ourselves and others. Believe it or not, these errors are rooted in our insecurities, and therefore, inadequate self-love!
As it turns out, I began a necessary self-love journey around the same time that I decided to make changes when it came to my impact on the Earth. And I did so because I was getting really tired of feeling like I was never enough. I was tired of not being happy despite achieving all the things that I thought would make me happy (more on that in another blog post coming soon).
You see, capitalism takes advantage of the fact that most of us are insecure about something. It knows that so many of us base our self-worth on external values. So many of us seem to always be “missing something”, and don’t feel like we’re enough. Not healthy enough, not slim enough, not attractive enough, not rich enough, not fun enough, not successful enough, not travelling enough, heck not “married with kids” enough… There is so much pressure to do and own certain things. And so we get wrapped up in consumerism by all the companies who convince us that their products will fill the gaps in our lives.
So here’s where I’ll help you make the connection between how loving yourself more will improve your sustainability habits:
When you feel content with yourself, you are less likely to fall for advertising and media who try to sell you things by claiming their products will solve all your insecurities and struggles.
When you love yourself, you are less likely to practice negative self-talk such as guilting, shaming, and getting discouraged to the point of giving up certain good habits completely.
When you have healthy ways of coping with the anxieties you face from day to day, you won’t automatically resort to emotional shopping and buying things you don’t need, thus reducing the amount of waste you produce.
When you’re truly sure of yourself, you are less likely to care what your friends and family say about your new sustainable habits, who might think that you’re only doing it to be '“trendy” rather than to finally have your actions align with your values.
When you choose to live in alignment with your true self, you will find a new kind of happiness. Others will notice this, and will feel capable of reaching out to you for help with their own sustainability journeys. Since you will feel confident in your choices rather than defensive, you’ll be encouraging rather than accusatory or shaming of their past or current habits, and thus have better success in guiding them. You’ll be self-aware and remember that you as well as others all had to start somewhere, and that small steps make a difference.
By now you might be thinking, wait, what?! But yes you heard right, self-love and sustainability are more interconnected than ever these days. You and the Earth are always interconnected. Every choice you make impacts the entire earth, which can feel overwhelming and scary, but also is empowering. Because once you realize that every choice you make has an impact, you’ll put more thought into these choices, and you’ll have an easier time knowing whether you’re doing the right thing. Being kind to yourself makes it easier to be kinder to the Earth, whereas being hard on yourself will impede you to live sustainably.
Take for example the amount of money we spend on “stuff”. Why don’t we transition to spending this money on bettering our self-love and mental health (say like going to regular therapy) as well as on our overall health and well-being (like seeing alternative practitioners for example) instead? Many people I know have no problem spending thousands of dollars a year on fast fashion and other unnecessary expenses (booze, eating out several times a week, etc), but when I mention how much I spend on supplements and practitioner visits that drastically improve my mood and overall health, they seem to think doing the same couldn’t possibly be within their budgets. As it turns out, it comes down to a matter of choice. When you choose to invest in yourself (healthy food, healthcare, things that truly light you up), you’ll feel a lot more in control when it comes to your mood and your self-worth, to the point where it’ll be a lot easier to see past the advertisements that claim that unnecessary purchases I mentioned above can cure your blues. It’s a lot easier to be a mindful consumer when you’re in a good mood. :)
If I have one tip to ensure no one steers you away from your sustainability goals, it would be to unfollow or mute social media accounts and unsubscribe from mailing lists of brands that make it tempting to buy things you don’t need. You don’t need ten emails a day in your inbox about all the latest sales you might be “missing out” on. If you do decide one day that you’d like to buy from a brand, you can always search them up again. If you’re following just to remember a brand’s name, I suggest making a list on your phone of brands you might want to consult in the future should you ever need specific items.
Being sustainable also means having sustainable habits, which means leaving room for mistakes. You won’t always be perfect, and that’s ok. Trying is better than not knowing what could’ve been. Instead of being hard on yourself, just remember that what’s important is that you’re making an effort, and that next time you can try to do better.
There’s a quote I’ve been seeing go around social media these past couple years, and it goes something like this:
“It’s better to have millions of people imperfectly doing zero waste than to have a select few people perfectly doing zero waste.”
So don’t let it discourage you if you don’t transition all at once. You don’t just wake up one day and decide you’ll suddenly become zero waste that day. In fact, I’m not zero waste, but rather consider myself low waste. Just start small, and remember that no one starts off as an expert. It’s not worth your energy to feel shame or guilt for how you used to live, or for not yet doing things others are doing. This is a journey after all, it takes time. So instead focus your energy on what you are doing, and get good at it. Eventually, habits will become second nature and a normal part of your lifestyle.
And also, with what’s currently going on in the world, it’s ok if some of your habits have slipped. Mental health trumps everything. Remember what I mentioned above, that you can’t take care of the Earth if you aren’t taking care of yourself.
To finish off, here are some quick tips that Sarah and I mentioned in the podcast on how to feel confident in your lifestyle choices when others might not see eye to eye with you!
How to deal with loved ones who don’t “get it” when it comes to your sustainability choices:
Protect your energy. Know that not everyone will understand every aspect of your being and that that’s ok.
No one else can tell you who you are or who you should be. If these choices are things you believe align with your truest self, then no one can tell you otherwise. Just own it! That being said, if you don’t feel comfortable telling your ‘why’, remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation for your lifestyle or plant-based food choices. They are YOUR choices after all.
When it comes to gatherings and eating differently than others, don’t be afraid to bring your own food. If you have to choose between “missing out” on certain foods/not giving in to peer pressure (from your grandma for example) to eat certain things, versus the anxiety or guilt from eating something you wanted to avoid, then you get to choose which one is more important to you. Personally, I eat plant-based for health reasons such as food sensitivities as well as environmental reasons, so I know that sticking to my usual food choices matter more to me than what people think. So I ensure I bring myself a big delicious meal if I’m going to a gathering, or eat beforehand.
Don’t doubt that people aren’t noticing your positive changes. Eventually, they will be used to you living a certain way, and hopefully will become more understanding with time. They might even get curious about what you’re up to and want to try out your plant-based foods without you asking them to.
Don’t try to change everyone to be more like you. Being confident in your choices rather than insecure and defensive will make you more likely to encourage others to make their own changes. For all you know, a family member of yours has been wanting to do something you’re now doing for years, but didn’t feel like they could until you did. Your actions will have a ripple effect on those around you.
If you receive an unwanted gift that does not resonate with you and your values, try not to feel upset or get anxiety over it. Ideally they would’ve given you a gift receipt, but if not, you can always try to sell it, regift it to someone who you think would like it, or ultimately donate it to an organization who can benefit from it (rather than just any thrift store).
Find online or local communities who are going through similar experiences, and refer to them for support when you feel alone in your journey. Note that you might not feel welcomed in some of these communities if you aren’t “fully transitioned”, but keep searching and I’m confident you’ll find a friendly, supportive community to be a part of. Note that I am always open to comments below, Instagram DM’s, and emails if you have any questions about becoming plant-based or implementing sustainable changes in your life. You’ll find my Instagram here.
To listen to the Sassy & Sustainable podcast, head to Sarah’s Instagram profile linked above or find the podcast directly here. I am featured in two episodes entitled “Chanelle Part 1: Greenwashing” and “Chanelle Part 2: The Sustainable Self”.
I hope you gained helpful insight from both the information above and the podcast episodes, and that you are staying safe & healthy.♡
Much love,
-Chanelle oxo