The most effective way to reduce waste indeed is not to create it in the first place. As I elaborate in the 1st part of this series, the notion of “less consumption, more joy” is not happening overnight. Reducing consumption can be inefficiently painful at the beginning if we rush to the results without precedent prudent habits.
In 2016, I joined an efficiency office with a mission to save billions of dollars in expenses. Following all the sleepless nights of a mission-driven and well-intentional group, we couldn’t help witnessing the collapse of a long-standing financial empire. Outsiders might attribute this demise to poor risk management. For me, living in the middle of chaos and trying in vain to save a company I love so much, I understand how and why it is important to be mindful of long-term vision with the practical short-term small steps. More than anyone else, I see how rushing can do more harm than good, even with the best intentions at heart.
More than one time in my life, I see costly changes when one switches to a “healthier” lifestyle and a “healthier” habit. When my mom decided to practice mindful yoga, the first thing she did was buy yoga clothing. Buying new clothing was the first step for her to feel all the joy and hope of a new change. I asked her then “Well, you can just practice yoga with the same clothing you are wearing at home”. She raised her eyes “Are you out of your mind? I can’t practice yoga with just stretchy pullovers and leggings. You don’t feel the difference in yoga clothing but I do”. It’s about the same upfront cost you pay for a “healthy” and “sustainable” lifestyle. Whether your target is home, food, or fashion, people don’t feel that they’ve changed without buying anything new.
How can I feel that I’m moving to a sustainable lifestyle without replacing all my plastic consumer goods with plant-based and bio-degradable possessions?
Well, the truth is “the change lies within you, not the materials you possess in your life”. This is the first step towards mindful changing to a sustainable lifestyle. Reuse and recycle what you already have for a new lifestyle, as the change in your heart truly matters more than a change in the possessions around your life. When you can’t reuse or recycle what already exists in your life, there comes an opportunity for you to buy a new item more in line with the new lifestyle.
Related link: How to develop healthy consumption habits (part 1)
