2019: The Year of Living Consciously

I’m not a fan of New Years resolutions, in my experience they seem to be made and broken by the time hot cross buns are on supermarket shelves.

Traditionally the idea of the resolution is a commitment to change. Exercise more, drink less. Learn to say ‘no’ or be less judgemental. The list is exhaustive. But change is hard, it takes time and requires a genuine commitment to create a new habit.

Resolving to do too much at once is doomed for failure because we are human. Despite the misguided notion of ‘multitasking’, humans can really only work effectively on one thing at a time.

For the past few years I have chosen a word for the year instead. I would make this word my ‘password’ for the year which meant I would be typing it on a keyboard constantly. over the years, depending on my state of mind and what I felt I needed, I have used ‘honest’, ‘fearless’, ‘infinite’, ‘courage’, ‘brave’.  

In 2019, I choose to be ‘conscious’. (I won’t be making it my password for obvious reasons!) By definition to be ‘conscious' is to be:

1. aware of and responding to one’s surroundings 
2. having knowledge of something.

I think it’s a perfect word for me this year, a constant reminder of my intention as I explore how I can positively impact and motivate people to be more mindful of how, what and why they consume!

I have heard and read many arguments about the ineffectiveness of conscious consumerism (which is certainly not a new concept) when we live in country where capitalism and consumerism are our foundations.

The notion that my series of small, ethically conscious purchasing decisions can impact global unsustainable business models may seem fanciful, but I have to believe that it will do more than just make me feel good about myself.

The reality is that unless I decide to be a bush dwelling hippy living solely off the land, I am going to consume, and that’s ok.

CHOICES BECOME HABITS AND HABITS BECOME BEHAVIOUR. CHANGING BEHAVIOUR AND THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT CONSUMPTION ARE THE FIRST THINGS WE CAN DO TO MINIMISE OUR IMPACT ON THE WORLD. EVERYONE HAS THE POWER TO INFLUENCE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WORKPLACES. 

Conscious consumers try to make decisions that are beneficial to themselves and the world, understanding that consumers ultimately hold the power to shape supply and demand change.

Consumers are not powerless. As the old saying goes; “we might be helpless alone but united together we are strong and can accomplish much”.

However, even alone it feels good to do the right thing. 

SO I WILL SET MY INTENTION TO MOVE FORWARD THIS YEAR CONSCIOUS OF MY CHOICES, CONSCIOUS OF WHERE, HOW AND ON WHAT I AM SPENDING MY MONEY, CONSCIOUS OF MY WORDS, CONSCIOUS OF HOW I FEEL (AND MAKE OTHERS FEEL) AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONSCIOUS OF HOW I SPEND MY TIME. 

The future isn’t a place we are going to go to. It’s a place we each have a role in creating.

“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action that is important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time that there will be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result” - Ghandi

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