While the dictionary defines the verb "to sustain" to mean: to keep in existence, to maintain, to supply with necessities or nourishment, the term "sustainability" did not exist until recently. Nowadays the word sustainability is widely used as a politically correct term linked to the impact human and business practices have on Mother Earth and its natural resources. By now, most people and businesses have embraced recycling as a valid sustainable practice and you see more and more web sites dedicated to facilitate the exchange of consumer items.
But how does one differentiate a sustainable practice from one that is not? And what if there were guiding principles to help us develop a practice that will support our Mother Earth and ourselves?
One guiding principle that has always existed, yet has been forgotten until recently, is the idea that we are all inter-connected. In other words, everything we do has an impact on something or someone. When we embrace this inter-connectedness as the foundation of all Life, whether human, animal or plant, we open ourselves to a compassionate wisdom. When the win-lose polarity loses its appeal, we are left with the quest for not only a win-win position but for also a third win.
We start asking questions that look beyond the short term view of immediate impact where both parties are happy and instead adopt a long term perspective. For instance, I recently spoke at a national conference. I was happy they had selected me as a speaker and the organizers were happy with my topic - perfect win-win. Just before I was due to send my handouts for copying, I wondered how many people actually kept the hand outs after the presentation. I knew the conference had a web site where all the hand outs would be posted and I decided to proceed without providing handouts to the audience. The impact on the environment made me question the wisdom of providing hand outs to everyone. I told my audience they could access the hand outs on the web site if they wanted to, no paper wasted - a perfect win-win-win.
When we operate in a sustainable manner we look for better ways to live our life in an honourable and respectable way. This means being honourable and respectful to good old Mother Earth but also to the people around us. How often do be hurt a relationship by not paying attention to it? How disturbing is it when someone at a restaurant keeps answering their cell phones? When we pay attention to the people around us, when our main goal is to stop their suffering by showing compassion, we win by the mere fact of giving, and they win by receiving. This energy of compassion is then spread around as we are all connected. A definite win-win-win!
Finally, the story of the Golden Goose is a perfect example of non-sustainable practice. By killing the Golden Goose to access the gold thought to be inside, the supply of golden eggs dried up. Greed is often at the core of destruction of resources. When we work 80 hours a week we are, in fact, slowing killing the Golden Goose. When we don't take care of ourselves, we are unable to care for Mother Earth, or for the people around us who may depend on us - a lose-lose-lose.
Sustainability starts with each one of us becoming aware of our actions. Take a walk in the park, replenish your own resources and at the same time, pick up the garbage that lies on the ground. Breathe in deep breaths and re-connect with Nature, with yourself, and re-awaken the compassion that sleeps inside of you. Ask yourself whether your actions can sustain Mother Nature, the people around you and yourself.
Here are a few tips to begin a practice of sustainability:
