How to Deal With Your Eco-Anxiety?
8 Steps to Confronting Your Climate Anxiety with Resilience
Hey 👋 - Yoann here.
Each Saturday, I send out 1 actionable tip to support the growth of your Climate Tech startup, your fund, or your career.
Today’s post can be read in 6 min.
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Heat waves, forest fires, water shortages, disappearance of biodiversity or ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ droughts…
Dang, every time I hear about another event, it just brings me down. It's getting hard to stay optimistic with everything going on in the world.
The existential threat is real and “nobody” seems to care.
I’m sure you’ve felt the same way.
First, let’s acknowledge we are not alone experiencing this new phenomenon of Eco Anxiety or Climate Anxiety.
We are literally millions!
A 2021 survey of 10,000 young people around the world found that nearly half of them said climate change concerns affected their daily life and functioning, with 75% describing the future as “frightening.”
“The feeling of being a climate hostage is quite real.”
I propose to share a few steps that have worked for me.
That’s it. In all humility.
Step 1: Accept the Severity of the Situation 😵💫
Accept that the situation is dire and that it will require collective action to mitigate its impacts.
“Acceptance does not mean surrender. It does not mean resignation. Acceptance means I am finally available to the entire spectrum of creative responses.”
Acknowledge the emotions that come with this realization, but don't let them paralyze you.
When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others.
You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.
Step 2: Acknowledge I Am Part Of The Problem & Solutions 🫣🤗
Technically, you know what you should do to foil your climate impact: reduce driving & flying, cut down on meat consumption, don’t buy things you don’t REALLY need, and don’t vote for the parties promoting fossil fuels...
And YES, your actions matter. You have a lot more influence than you think.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” —Alice Walker
And seek out and engage with others who are working towards solutions to the climate crisis.
“Action feeds hope feeds action feeds hope. Because without hope, you’re not going to have action, without action, you’re not going to have hope. They feed each other.” ―Heather Price
Step 3: Practice Being With Uncertainty 😶
Accept that we can't predict exactly what the climate crisis will do. Even the best scientists CANNOT tell you for sure what the situation will be in 10 years.
Understand that it's normal to feel freaked out or overwhelmed when things are up in the air.
Try mindfulness and meditation to stay grounded in the moment.
“Be open to the outcome, not attached to the outcome.” —Angeles Arrien
Step 4: Honor My Mortality And The Mortality Of All 💀⚰️
Think about how life is short and focus on living in the HERE and NOW.
Realize that we're all in this together and taking care of the planet is taking care of ourselves and future generations.
Be kind to yourself and other people as you work to do something about the climate crisis.
Step 5: Love Planet Earth 💚🌎
Think about how AMAZING the natural world is and how lucky we are to be alive on this planet.
Go out and embrace nature! Take a cue from the Japanese and try some Forest Bathing once a week!
I swear by it, I even put it in my calendar.
Step 6: Take Breaks & Rest 🧘🧘♀️
Realize when you need to take a break from the news or talking about the climate crisis.
Take care of yourself, like by working out, meditating, or hanging out with friends.
Don't rush yourself and remember that we're all in this for the long haul.
Step 7: Take action in a way that feels empowering to you ✊🎯
Share what you know with others and help build a community of people who want to make a difference.
Encourage more people to get involved and take responsibility for the planet.
Step 8: Celebrate your successes and Enjoy the ride! 🥳🎢
Think about what you've accomplished and focus on what's really important to YOU.
Celebrate your successes and keep pushing for more progress towards a sustainable future.
Look for ways to work with other people. People like you, awakened to the problem.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ―Howard Thurman
Conclusion
Climate anxiety is a tremendously tough challenge. It has taken me down more than once.
It is important to remember that while we have a sense of mission to make a positive impact on the planet, we must also maintain a sense of detachment from the outcome.
Our ultimate purpose is to experience the beauty and richness of life, not to be trapped in worry and fear. As we work towards climate resilience, we must let go of our attachment to specific outcomes and embrace the uncertainty that comes with change.
This mindset allows us to approach the climate crisis with openness, creativity, and curiosity, rather than rigidity or defeatism. It is through this sense of detachment that we can find the freedom to take bold and meaningful action towards a more sustainable future, without being weighed down by the fear of failure.
Let's move forward with purpose, detachment, and a commitment to making our small contribution to the world 😊
IN CASE YOU MISSED OUR LAST EPISODE
Wayout - Creating A World Where Access To Water Is Free (feat. Ulf Stenerhag)
We cover how to crack the local production of water in order to eliminate the 1.3 billion plastic bottles are used EACH DAY across the world.
That's all for this Saturday. Simple insights in 5 minutes.
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