Is your stuff worthy of your life energy?

While creating renewable energy solutions is the prime policy mechanism for addressing climate change, it seems to us that the elephant in the room is what we actually use that energy for.  Of particular concern is when we use that energy to make a lot of stuff that is unneeded, not beautiful, wasteful, and poisonous to ourselves and the biosphere- (and likely bought on credit- causing even more distress- but we'll leave that to the money bloggers).

Governments and companies will never call us on how we consume- it seems to violate some fundamental freedom.   And, from a policy perspective, it's difficult to do because if a macro shift in our behavior really were to happen, it  would dramatically alter political, social and economic realities- with a lot of potential winners and losers.  

And it's hard to call ourselves on what we consume- there's a psychological component- we have to be willing to give up the status symbols that form a sort of self-esteem exoskeleton.   You might have heard one of those blatant status symbol radio ads- the ones for the luxury watches?  Where they say "you can't wear your car in a business meeting"? To let them know the "heights you've attained"?  This kind of thinking has to go by the wayside before we'll make much progress.

We think that shifting the way you think about stuff, and the way you consume can actually have a positive impact in all spheres of your life.   

Principle #1:  Reject the word "consumer", and see how it changes your thinking about your role in the economy and society.  You're a creator, a producer, a contributor, an individual, a person, a citizen, an earthling- but to the economists, we're consumers.  That language only took root a few decades ago.  It minimizes who you are, and invites passivity and greed.

Principle #2:  Consider this:  Your stuff represents stored energy- the raw energy and materials it took to make it, and the energy it took to earn the money to pay for it. 

AND, it's corollary....

Principle #3:  Is your stuff worthy of your energy? If you begin to think that every item is a direct trade of your life energy, you may start to choose differently.  What you buy you must care for, dispose of.  In a way, it owns, you.  So think twice!

• Is it needed? 
• Is it beautiful? 
• Is it made sustainably? 
• Can I dispose of it without harming the planet? 
• Is is good for me, my community, my planet? 
• Will it make my life better, and if so, for how long?

This thinking will change you- you'll become a POST CONSUMER person.  It's a very powerful state of mind.

Written by :

XtineM