Practicing mindfulness can completely transform your life. As a lifestyle, mindfulness has been around for many, many years, with the first sages of yoga promoting this approach to life. This age-old practice has been shown to do wonders on an individual level, but today, we can take things one step further and use mindfulness to improve our planet’s sustainability. 

The world we live in today is noisy and overstimulated, with humans rapidly exploiting our planet’s finite resources. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and without the right response, it could lead to large-scale devastation. There are multiple incentives to “go green.” Tax benefits like renewable energy tax credit, qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle tax credit, and the energy-efficient mortgage program are all great incentives for individuals to live more sustainable lives. However, as a society, we are now past the point where incentivized action is enough to protect our planet. 

The threats to our environment can no longer be removed simply through new innovation and progressive government policies. As stated in an article by Rider University, “Changes need to be made at the individual level if we want to really influence humanity’s relationship with energy.” To properly safeguard the future of our planet, there needs to be an active shift in the way we do things. 

To become more sustainable, a new approach to living is necessary now more than ever before. Here’s where mindfulness can help. 

Mindfulness can be achieved through a variety of different activities, such as yoga, meditation, deep listening, and even physical activities like gardening and slow travel. Take note that the awareness cultivated through mindfulness is compassionate — an awareness that is non-judgmental and curious. So how exactly can mindfulness play a role in improving our sustainability? Let’s take a look: 

Increased Ability to Cope With Trauma

In an article on The Conversation, Christine Wamsler, professor of sustainability science at Lund University, writes that mindfulness can increase one’s ability to cope with the repercussions of climate change. Research shows that mindfulness is very beneficial for anyone involved in a disaster, helping them cope with post-traumatic stress. As Wamsler writes, mindfulness “can make people better able to cope with stress and adapt to new circumstances by minimizing automatic, habitual, or impulsive reactions and increasing cognitive flexibility.” 

These findings are especially relevant when it comes to climate change — the disaster we are all coping with today, one way or another. The ability to effectively cope with the impact of climate change means we are able to appropriate steps to avert future disaster, as opposed to falling into a cycle of despair and hopelessness when faced with a situation that is resultant of a degrading planet. 

Since mindfulness can influence our response to crises, it is likely to make us change our behavior, thus aiding the overall health of our planet. On a wide scale, this has led to improved corporate social responsibility initiatives. In our personal lives, it has encouraged us to make positive changes, from upgrading to more energy-efficient devices to eating more sustainable diets.

Conscious Decision-Making

In an article titled “How Mindfulness Can Save the Planet”, author Carley Hauck describes one of the effects of mindfulness: “When we can bring our attention to the present moment and start to see things as they are, we can learn to sit with the difficult, enormous-seeming tasks and not be overwhelmed by them.” The ability to face the unpleasant head-on, rather than push it away, is a key mindset shift when it comes to dealing with the sustainability of our planet. By learning to not be overwhelmed, we are able to make informed decisions for our world from a place of calmness and logic. 

Mindfulness gives us the tools needed to make informed and conscious decisions. This means we can consider long-term implications of our actions, as opposed to behaving rashly and regretting it later. For instance, a mindful consumer will know that a minimalist life is far better for our environment than buying lots of products that are marked “energy efficient.” These capabilities are essential to fight climate change — a problem that has no quick fix; it requires forethought and long-term commitment to be solved.  

Cultivating Compassion

Finally, practicing mindfulness cultivates a culture of compassion. Increased awareness helps us realize that we are all connected. We all have our roles to play to ensure the survival of our planet. This realization of interconnectedness is a result of mindfulness and can help us accept our accountability to the Earth. 

Due to the cultivation of compassion, mindfulness also encourages us to be more aware of social and environmental justice. Today, the problems associated with climate change disproportionately affect those in low-income countries, minorities, and poor communities in developed nations. As stated by Wamsler, “Mindful thinking can lead people to consider the consequences of unquestioned structures and power relations, at all scales from petty disputes in the workplace to global issues.” 

Even though it may not be the first solution that comes to mind when thinking about ways to improve our planet’s sustainability, adopting mindfulness is a definite step in the right direction. One of the best parts about practicing mindfulness is that it can be executed on an individual level. The benefits of mindfulness are available to virtually anyone, provided they are willing to give this approach to life a fair chance. By cultivating a more mindful society, we can actively shift our perceptions and actions to be better humans, and in turn, better our environment.