Making life changes and maintaining them without allowing guilt to creep in and ruin your mojo!
New Years isn't at the top of everyone's festive list, but one tradition we do love is the New Year's resolution. It's not just about something you wish you could do more (or less) of, but it can also be based on genuine hope and we're all for a bit of that, especially when it comes to being more mindful of ourselves and those around us.
Challenging yourself is healthy
Instead of wondering what it would be like to give up a habit, start a healthy diet plan or try and loose some weight, don't just dip your toes in the water and get put off, jump in head first - it can be an exhilarating experience. Once you conquer one change, you'll be able to set your sights on a new challenge towards becoming the very best version of yourself.
The challenge to become more environmentally aware was our New Year's resolution, we may have nailed the plastic-free living, zero waste culture and plant based eating, but research was our nemesis and sifting through to find the right information was key in understanding the issues facing the planet.
Mahatma Gandhi
Be the change you want to see in the world.
When it comes to environmental issues, ignorance is not bliss, knowledge is power and there is even more power in numbers. For Earthkind to continue promoting change, we had to become aware of the science; research and understanding were important factors in getting to grips with the truth so we could create the opportunity to help, not just through the service we provide but with the information we can offer to help people understand why we are there in the first place.
Feeling guilty when things go wrong
Guilt and worry can be a detrimental human condition which distracts us from achieving our goals. Things go wrong, people are not perfect and worrying about past or recent habits prohibits the ability to move forward freely, with hope and positivity. The problem is not what you were doing yesterday, but what you choose to do today. If you are just starting your environmental journey, be proud to know you are "awake" and start waking others through inspirational change that you have made yourself.
Serving guilt towards others is counterproductive and can deter people from wanting to wake up - it's important to remind ourselves that we were once ignorant to the issues too and offering advice, opportunity and inspiration is what is needed to nurture change in others.
...pick your journey.
For us, it's not just about being plastic free but looking at environmental issues as a whole and understanding what and where we are contributing towards these problems, then finding ways of adapting, compromising or completely changing our behaviours to support sustainability in all it's forms.
Guilt can be toxic as it relieves us of our hope. Don't feel guilty - pick your environmental journey and stay true to it because it is manageable for you and your family, then, once you've nailed that challenge, perhaps you can manage a new one.