Rethinking Lifestyle

If you’re worried about the environment, it can be frustrating to be around people who aren’t. Even among friends and family, the fate of the next and all future generations can be treated like a pet topic or hobby. “Oh right – you’re into that kind of stuff. Good for you.” Well yes, if you’re referring to every living thing, including the earth that keeps them living, then yeah – I’m into that! Fortunately, the number of people who are interested is growing. Whether it’s because of the first-hand effects they’re witnessing or just simple logic, people are realizing that what we’re doing is not OK and cannot continue. If you’re reading this column, you’re probably one of those people. This article is directed to you.

When faced with public indifference to the gravity of our situation, I’ll bet you’ve been tempted to say, “It doesn’t matter what I do. Nothing will change unless everybody else does their part, and they clearly will not.” Sometimes it seems like you’re the only one who gets it, and you feel frustrated and powerless.

But consider this:

The crises we face together have two powerful, paralyzing arguments against taking the radical steps required to address them: insistence of doubt, and the stalemate quandary. The first is a fantasy held by those who refuse to acknowledge the problem by insisting that its existence is a matter of opinion. This is a defensive position that is only entrenched by logical argument (see “Backfire Effect”), so I’ll spend no more time on it here. The second however, belongs to those who see the problem clearly but who respond with comfortable desperation instead of action. They defer to some other, more responsible party than themselves: government, industry, society, etc. They say, “Let — change first. Then I can act.”

This “you first” mentality is the lock that prevents us from moving forward. It assumes that government, industry & society will lift the burden of the changes we want and need to make in our own lives by supporting those changes. They will not. But don’t be mislead – you have complete and unquestioned sovereignty over the actions of your own person. Exercising that authority may seem insignificant to you, but human beings are hard-wired social creatures and believe me – we notice. We notice every reusable bag in the checkout lane, every cyclist, every conversation-holder that challenges the status quo. Consciously or unconsciously, we compare and conform our behaviour to yours. With every act, you are normalizing change. Following a precedent is how large groups of people adapt their behaviour to new knowledge. After all, isn’t that how you came to think as you do now?

Despite the way it may feel, your role as an agent of change becomes even more critical as you find yourself alone in the field. Where “environmentalists” are seen as irrational hysterics, a model of level-headed foresight is needed. Where consumption and waste are the motive force of society, a voice for the sufficiency of higher goals and values must be heard. The rarer your opinion the louder it will transmit, so be gentle. Your responsibility is to be educated about your own views. Challenge yourself to refine your beliefs of what “the world should do” by practising them first yourself – at all costs.

You, dear reader are in a position of awareness forged for you by acquaintances, teachers and community leaders who were not dismayed by public resistance and apathy. Understand that their actions were no less meaningful to you than yours are now to the people around you. For them, for yourself and for future generations, don’t wait for the parade to start. March.