adjust your impact on our planet
Things we purchase or do each day have an impact on people, animals, and plants all over the world. We don't want you to feel guilt or shame about this. It's super complex stuff. But we do want to invite you to Accept Influential Agency by discovering how a purchase or choice you routinely make affects our Collective Self. And then make a change to have a more positive effect. This may require you to Make Sacrifices.
Let's Get to It! | Here's What to Do:
1 - Research Your Impact
2 - Make a Change
3 - Record What You Experience
Research the impact that things you buy have on people, animals, plants, and ecosystems around the world. Consider the food, clothing, entertainment, energy, etc. that you purchase. You might also consider how routine actions you engage in affect others as well.
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As you do this, you might start to feel overwhelmed! Our Collective Self has built very complicated political and economic structures that are entangled with all manner of activities that cause all kinds of harm. You aren't going to be able to untangle the whole thing today. Baby steps. It is helpful for you to be aware of the messiness of it all but it probably isn't helpful for you to be emotionally overwhelmed by it. Consider using the principles and activities on the Process Emotions page to work through whatever comes up for you during your research. You are an integral part of the Collective Self. Processing your emotions helps the whole.
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You also might find conflicting information or otherwise be unsure of what to believe. The principles of Discerning Truth can help you decide who to trust and how to respond.
When you're ready, pick one purchase or routine action you want to change in order to adjust your impact on our Collective Self. Write down how you will stop or reduce your participation in that product or action and what you will replace it with that has a more positive impact. Write down all of the benefits that will come to you and others as you make this change.
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Your change might affect other people close to you. (For example, your family members might be impacted by a change in the food your purchase.) If you involve them in making and planning the change, you'll be honoring their agency and things will be a lot less awkward for you and them.
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Now all that's left is to do it! Decide when and how you'll get started and follow through. At various times during the process, you might mourn the way you used to do things. That's natural. Honor and process those feelings.
While you're implementing the change, write in your journal about what you experience, feel, and learn. Include what you learn about Accepting Agency, Discerning Truth, Processing Emotions, Stewarding the Earth, and other virtues.
Am I Really Helping?
Your one change is not likely to change all the global structures that are harming our Collective Self. Additionally, you might learn that the change you made has unforeseen adverse side effects for some population on the Earth. This is tricky stuff that we've wrestled with. We don't have easy answers but here is how we think about it:
When you do your best to change your lifestyle to have a more positive impact on our Collective Self, you are practicing love and other virtues. As more and more people do that, momentum builds toward a global shift. And as you grow in virtue, your influence will grow and grow in ways that surprise you.
Making changes that might have adverse side effects is part of Being Vulnerable. If we don't try things because something might go wrong, we'll never get any good done. Do your best. Keep making wise, balanced, incremental adjustments and trust that doing so does contribute to a net positive effect for yourself and others.
