Take Baby Steps to Green Living to Add Up to Big Change

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Take Baby Steps to Green Living to Add Up to Big Change

Taiga Company Yobo Member
May 27th, 2011

Credit: WikiMedia

By Julie Urlaub

image: journey “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Confucius

Most of us recognize that change can be unsettling. It can be scary, and too often it is just easier to slip back into a traditional and comfortable way of doing things. However, implementing effective sustainable change does not have to be a laboring process.

All too often, we turn our attention to the barriers and roadblocks to the incorporating sustainability concepts into our businesses and personal lives. There is a tendency to take too broad of a view of the concept of sustainability and become overwhelmed by its magnitude and our ability to make change. Instead, we need to focus on the benefits we are individually trying to achieve from a specific change. What are the baby steps we can take that make change easier?

Within our personal sustainability programs, we encourage clients to be aware that sustainable change can be easily integrated into daily living when it is realistic, achievable and beneficial. In a recent post, we discussed the following initial questions to facilitate change in a sustainability plan.

•    What is it that you are looking to achieve?
•    Is the desired outcome within your control?
•    What will be the personal benefits resulting from the change?

Taking this information, the next step is to apply your eco awareness to a focused approach that will facilitate the desired lasting results. By breaking down the ‘sustainability giant’ into a personal sustainability plan with manageable steps, you can ensure that the approach will be aligned with your own sustainability objectives.

•    Define your long-term personal sustainability values.
•    Establish a vision for what sustainability looks like in your daily life.
•    Determine where you are in the pursuit of your sustainable lifestyle.
•    Clearly state where you want be.
•    Identify your sustainable growth potential (integrate easy items first to build momentum).
•    Engage others in the process if necessary.
•    Acknowledge the joy and fun you feel from achieved benefits.

As mentioned in our eco friendly training, each day we are presented with opportunities to expand our eco awareness and make informed choices. By making changes that are inspiring and manageable relative your current life, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier. Each of us evolves on our personal sustainability path and collectively, we advance us all forward to a brighter future.

This story originally appeared at the Taiga Company Blog