Welcome to Day 6.
In Day 5,
We explored inner conflict that can arise with eco-anxiety.
In today's practice,
We center around allowing yourself to change.
So let's begin together by taking a few deep,
Grounding breaths into our safe and supportive space here.
Closing your eyes if that feels comfortable.
Breathing in through the nose,
Focusing on the breath,
Pulling it up,
Holding your breath,
And then releasing.
Do this a couple more times.
Over the next two days,
We're going to explore in detail the different kinds of changes you can make.
These changes will make a genuine difference to the problems created by climate change and should also help to ease the painful feelings you have been experiencing.
Action is important psychologically because it helps to give you back a sense of control.
It helps you take your power back,
Personally.
But first,
Congratulations on planting another tree.
The second tree Ecosia will plant for you will protect wildlife.
Wildlife habitats are smaller than ever before,
But planting trees helps reverse this trend.
In Uganda,
Ecosia collaborates with the Jane Goodall Institute to reconnect forest patches.
This helps chimpanzees travel from one forest to the next without crossing human territory.
In Indonesia,
Ecosia works with indigenous communities to protect the critically endangered Sumacan orangutan by turning old palm oil plantations into diverse forests again.
The trees Ecosia plants in India,
Meanwhile,
Provide a growing home for elephants and tigers.
Thank you for meditating,
And thank you for planting a tree for our fellow creatures.
An easy first step is to start bringing your personal life in alignment with what you know is reducing your carbon footprint.
You can begin by exploring eating meals without meat,
Fish,
Or dairy products once a week,
Taking public transportation to work,
Or planning a holiday without flying.
Longer term,
You'll need to look carefully at all the high carbon activities in your life,
The energy efficiency of your home,
And the fuel used to heat it and run appliances,
The fuel used when you travel,
The amount of meat and dairy products you eat,
And the money you spend on consumer goods.
You should be able to find carbon calculators and advice online that will help you to do this.
Making a big dent in your personal footprint will take time.
It'll involve talking to people you share your life with,
And these conversations are not always easy.
However,
The more you do to reduce your impact,
The better you'll feel.
These personal actions give you back a sense of integrity that you may have lost while you've struggled with guilt or shame or even sadness.
They also give you a sense of authority when speaking to others.
It makes it clear that you are genuine in your concerns.
You'll be able to feel proud that you're beginning to live the kind of sustainable and eco-aware life that everyone will need to live in the future.
For today's practice,
We're going to do a visualization through your day in your sustainable future.
Come to a relaxed position wherever you are and take a few deep relaxing breaths.
With your eyes closed,
Continue in the relaxed state you are in and bring your attention inward.
Vision your future in a sustainable and regenerative society.
What does a normal day in your sustainable future look and feel like?
What has improved?
What does your community look and feel like?
Think about the air quality and transport.
What type of sustainable work does everyone do?
How has your carbon footprint reduced and improved?
What further information can you provide?
What is your relationship to nature?
What is your relationship to nature?
What is your relationship to nature?
What is your relationship to nature?
Bring your awareness back to your breath.
Now slowly open your eyes.
Cheers to you for your powerful visualization practice of a sustainable future.
Today's action step.
Look up carbon calculators online.
Find one for your country and calculate your carbon footprint.
Look for actions that would make a big reduction and set an intention to gradually put them into practice.
For better sustainability,
Each of our yearly carbon footprints should be around 2.
3 tons.
That's a one-way flight from Berlin to San Francisco.
Cheers again to you.
Cheers to completing day six and to planning your second tree.
Tomorrow we discuss finding strength with others.
I look forward to being with you again soon.
