I've ratcheted up my reading lately (blogs, articles, magazines, etc.) on various sustainability issues. The upside is that I'm increasingly aware of the issues. The down side is that sometimes the doom and gloom factor really feels like overload. There's so much that's screwed up in the world, it's easy to start to feel like you just want to crawl under a rock and hide.
I noticed what an almost physical relief it was earlier today when I was reading the Ecofriend blog, with its positive focus on eco-friendly products and things people have created that support a sustainable path. I need to seek out more of that.
I'm not sure exactly how it will unfold, but I think I need to start incorporating a look at "bright shining moments" in the sustainability movement - for my own sanity if nothing else. Sustainability heroes, positive sustainability trends, positive developments, etc. I guess my sustainable living tips series fits in that as well.
Not to say I want to paint a Pollyana picture. I'll still look at the issues that we really need to be aware of. But after a while wave after wave of negative reinforcement about how the whole world is going to hell has a draining effect and makes it easy to get dispirited.
We need to wake up to reality, but we have to have enough of the positive to hold on to that we don't just give up swimming and sink.
Too much focus on the negative and we get bogged down in the hopelessness. Too much positive and we miss the urgency of the issues at hand. The key is finding that sweet spot where we are aware of reality, but stay positive and energized enough to be a force for change.
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