Compassionate Consumption

What we buy, use and eat has an impact on our planet. We need to be aware of all of these things not just for our own health, but for the welfare of future generations.

You can do mini-meditations each day, or when you are feeling like your spending is out of control, to remind yourself of the interconnectedness of all beings and things. This will also help you to stop mindless consumption and becoming a victim of our consumer driven society. When you purchase less toxic products you are lessening the burden on our planet. This meditation practice is not to make you feel guilt but to heighten your conscious and to make you feel empowered that you can actually make a difference.

I read a book about how to make change in the world. It all comes down to 7 words in 3 sentences.

Be Healthy. Be Kind. Respect Your Environment.

It's so simple yet we never put it first when we are making choices.........   until now.

Using these steps you can remind yourself of the impact that YOU are having on the planet and to help you change your consumer habits to be more compassionate.

1. Sit on your own. Be comfortable. Remove any distractions that may interrupt you.

2. Visualize yourself being connected to all other living things, the sky, the earth, water, rocks and plants.  Feel a sense of love emanating from your whole body and a sense of gratitude for all of the beauty and those life experiences that you have had, that make you the person you are.

3.Imagine the effect that you have every time you consume something. The people who grow and manufacture the materials and resources, the distribution those products,  All of the energy and interaction that it takes to supply that item.

Think of the limited resources that this planet has. Oil, minerals, water. Think of how we deal with the    wastes of that product and the by products of manufacturing and distributing. Think of how we deal with disposal of things that cannot be recycled.

When we are talking about consuming meat, consider the animal that it came from. The conditions that animal went through on a farm and how it was slaughtered and processed. Remember that it was not that animals choice to live such a life. Send your gratitude to that animal that has given its life to be your nourishment. Stop being disconnected from the truth that all meat, was once a living being.

Think of all farming and food preparation practices using chemicals and machinery and cheap labour.

4. Bring this consciousness of the effect of your consumption on the planet, to your everyday life and try to make more compassionate decisions regarding what you consume.

5. Be Aware, Be Grateful.

No matter how long the mess has been there,

no matter how powerful the urge is to leave it there,

make the effort to clean it up.

It's worth it.

It opens up new horizons.

It brings freshness.

It opens up new perspectives

P.L.

Love and Gratitude,

Lisa xxx