Emotional Sustainability for activists.

Some people who care about the environment at times feel frustrated, discouraged even

devastated with the enormity of the painful situation, and the lack of progress. This is natural. How can we be emotionally sustainable while continuing to act during demoralizing times?

A person may have empathy, compassion, a holistic view or a longer view of time, a sense of morality about preserving life intact for the future, about preserving the planet. 

Considering the reality, such a person may have feelings - that run from concern, urgency, frustration to discouragement and devastation. They may feel helpless as if nothing they can do will make a difference. In a way it’s natural to feel this way at times.

How to deal with these feelings and continue to act for what we know is right.

Let’s look at best and worst case scenarios. Best case, our actions will make a difference, worse case they won’t. Reality:  Can we ever really know whether it will or won’t?

Best case: Our actions will make a difference

A case can be made that any action will make a difference. Even a small change if enough people do it can make a big difference. Also since everything is connected, a small change will affect other things and may also be noticed by other people. What you do and talk about can influence the culture we live in.

Not too long ago women couldn’t vote, birth control was illegal, there was segregation of races, most people smoked,  very few people were health conscious,  things can change.

Worse case: Nothing I can do will make a difference

Even if it doesn’t make a difference. How do you choose to live your life? Allow yourself to be beaten down and give up fighting for what you love?   Or can we learn to have an internal sustainability that allows us to act to protect that which we love no matter what.

Even in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds and outright evildoing, you can choose to take a position to act anyway. They say it is not so much what happens but your reaction to what happens that counts. It is natural to feel fear, anger, shock, outrage, even devastation at some of the things that are going on. 

The trick is to allow yourself to feel and acknowledge those feelings, to manage them . EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique can be learned for free in a few hours. It is very useful to take the edge off strong emotions which might stop us from taking positive actions.

Then transform it! If you are given a lemon, make lemonade. Transform  and channel those feelings and energy, from negative into positive action. 

Have neither hope nor fear.

There is a saying attributed to Hildegard of Bingen: ”Neither hope nor fear.”  I added to it: Neither hope nor fear, just act my dear.

Goal oriented vs process oriented. Of course we want to achieve a goal. But in a difficult  battle such as we are in over the future of life on Earth, it may be more sustainable for us to be process oriented as well. That way we can continue to work over time and have less of a chance for burnout.  Look to the deep past and future but act with mindfulness in the moment.

Do what you can, the best you can, that is all anybody can do.

Use your strengths. Good with kids? Get them involved in an ecology club, take them out into nature. Good with gardening? Start or become involved with a community garden.

Good at organizing? organize a rally or demonstration. Good at cooking? Have organic pot lucks, teach about organic food, crusade against GMOs  Like to eat ? Lend your talents

to getting rid of GMOs. Good at talking?

Visit your congressperson, give talks etc.

In social situations explain your point of view. Whatever you can do you can use your strengths to help save the planet. 

Learn new skills

Maintain a  balance. Act but also take care of your health, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Intersperse some enjoyable and healing things  in your life. Enjoy your connections with Earth, other animals, people in your life. Balance the action with rest, as the day is balanced with night. Be gentle with yourself.

Know that you are not alone people of all ages, colors, religions all around the world are acting to save the life of our precious planet.

Remember who is watching you:  it is the plants, the birds, the wild animals, the living oceans, the living soil,  the incredible web of life, those who have no voice who are looking at us. We must act for them.

Whether we think we can make a difference or not, should be less important than how we choose to live our lives, to keep up the struggle to protect the life on Earth. What could be more important?