When I started grappling with the concept of sustainability, it was really from the perspective of money. What is enough? What is more than I need? What do I really need? And which “needs” am I trying to meet with money? And should I look at the current situation, or take into account my retirement and other potential future needs? Answers might have been clear now and then over the years, but I continue to ask myself what is real. And adjust my lifestyle to lighten my ecological footprint.

Today “green” and “sustainability” are becoming fad words in the Bay area. We eat organic produce, drive Prius cars and install solar panels on our roofs. Hoping that possibly some little change of action might help us survive as a species…  or at least would help our own family or community… There are myriads of organizations and initiatives and movements, all working for common good. All this is very good news, but I wonder: what are we leaving out?

From integral coaching, I know that development that leaves out any major domains will not succeed, will be stumped at some point by what is left behind.  Sustainable change towards sustainability has to be inclusive of all aspects of our human experience.

Sustainability in the most personal sense concerns our awareness and inner self care. Does my internal dialogue leave room for my humanity? Do I love myself even when I’m not meeting my own high standards? Can I post this blog and let others respond without their viewpoints limiting my own self respect and dignity? And do I make time and space for what is important to me? Or even to find out what actually IS important? Do I have room for mourning, for connecting with my despair over the state of our world?  I love how the “self empathy” practice from Nonviolent Communication (NVC) can help me stay in touch with myself, moment by moment.

Turning outward, to my body and behavior, I wonder about the sustainability of my habits: How does my self care resonate with caring for the planet? How much do I work and how much play and rest? Do I treat myself to food that is sustainably produced, and is my own handling of the food following along? How is my health responding to being more – or less – in harmony with nature?  I love that my office is at walking distance from my home. It has become a quality-of-life-requirement for me to not drive my car every day, and to be able to function in the world by foot.

Turning to others, to the people in my work and life, I look at sustainability in relationships: How do I show up in ways that help us learn together what works for both? And how do I invite you to do the same? Do I take in the feedback I’m given, do I provide the feedback I want to give – for our shared learning, for increased functioning of the whole?  How much do I trust in and build up “our” joint capacity to deal with what life provides us? Again, I turn to the NVC process for tools and ways to practice listening and speaking with clarity and compassion. Both.

On my walks to the office, not only do I get some light exercise, I also get to see the homeless people who share the park with the high school students; I get to recognize my neighbors and to be in touch with my surroundings. Thinking “if the world falls apart – like some say it will – these are the people who I will have to learn to share necessities with.” Will I be able to treat them with the respect and dignity I would like for myself?

Turning to the world around us, the question is more alive for many about what is sustainable? What does the environment need from us, to continue to provide food, shelter and a planet called home?

Love to all,
Maja