Does Your Lifestyle Support the Green Movement?

Notice the title? The question is generally reversed: How do you create a green or sustainable lifestyle? But, the dynamics of life is reciprocity - a state of mutual exchange. If you are looking to create a sustainable lifestyle, isn't it worth noting if the lifestyle you are creating serves a greater purpose? One perspective explored in our eco friendly training is questioning if a lifestyle supports the advancement of green living, sustainable businesses and the forward momentum of conscious living as a whole.

The post, Sustainability: Two Sides of the Same Coin, asks, “If sustainability were a coin, what would the two sides of it be? Business sustainability and personal sustainability. " It takes both to move the proverbial green ball forward.

Reflecting upon an earlier post, Be the Change: Promoting a Sustainable Lifestyle, Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world." To me, this means not only asking our world leaders to commit to eco action but also to each of us to personally commit to eco awareness in our daily lives.

Promoting sustainable living and "being the change" can take all forms and shapes. In our sustainability consulting, we addresses eco awareness and the integration of sustainability concepts into daily living by asking clients to consider the questions, "Is there an eco friendly alternative to this purchase?" Or, "Is there a more environmentally friendly manner in which I can do x (whatever it is that you are doing)?"

The internet as well as our very own sustainability blog is filled with countless ideas, how to information and suggestions on how to take action. Ultimately, behind every action is: Choice. We each have a choice. Each of us has our role to play. Do we consistently approach the areas of our life with environmental consciousness? We ask for accountability in the restructuring of our businesses, financial systems, our leaders, but are we holding ourselves accountable?

Personal sustainability can be uniquely expressed. What may work for me, may not work for you. However, just as it's our leaders’ responsibilities to work through the issues and the details around these complex issues, so is it our own personal responsibility to make the conscious choice and commitment to take action and be accountable for it.

If you think your actions are too small to matter, think again. As Betty Reese said, " If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito."