So, making the world a better place- heavy stuff right? Well, it doesn't have to be! Many of us are aware that our planet needs help in various areas and so it's easy to get overwhelmed by it all and want to retreat to pretending the problems don't exist and that everything will be okay. We're not talking about shaving your hair for charity, or becoming a full blown minimalist and vegan here- although I have to say, all of those things are commendable and pretty amazing things to commit to! We're going to be talking about small, easy things that you can do to make the world we live in, a better, happier place- and who doesn't want that!?
MANNERS
Ever heard the phrase 'manners cost nothing'? It's because they don't. They also take next to NO TIME out of your day, yet so many don't use them. Manners is synonymous with kindness. Thanking a waiter for bringing you your food, thanking the bus driver as you leave the bus, holding a door open for someone- these are all such tiny things that you can do and yet the impact that it could have on someones day is huge. I've worked in retail and hospitality for long enough to know that someone just simply thanking you for your help is enough to brighten someone's day. If you don't do these things already, try these out;
+ Say please when ordering food or coffee
+ Say thank you when the waitress/waiter brings you your food
+ Thank the bus driver when you leave (he probably hates his job)
+ Instead of cutting someone up, (whether in a car or on foot) let them go in front
+ Hold the door open for the next person
+ Say thank you to your god damn parents for making you food
+ Why not ask the barista how they are doing for once? You might catch them off guard
These might seem like really basic tips but I witness an incredible amount of people not doing them! I actually shake my head when people walk on and off of the bus, not even acknowledging the bus driver. SHAME ON YOU. Manners = Kindness = The world's a better place.
ENVIRONMENT
Of course this post was going to have something to say about the environment. It's one of the most important factors of making the world a better place. How we look after the world we live in, dictates what our futures will look like- maybe for us and definitely for our children and our children's children! I personally think that being a responsible human being for the good of the planet can actually be a little bit overwhelming! Be vegan, don't use plastic, eat organically, recycle, cut down on transport, turn the taps off when you're brushing your teeth, use cruelty free- the social pressures are thrown at us from every angle!
Now I get that it can seem like pressure, but it's really just an urgency. People are passionate about saving the planet and that is a good thing. Sometimes we need to feel social pressure (and in some cases, to feel bad!) in order to do what's right. Hence why putting a picture of a dead turtle with a straw up it's nose will dramatically decrease the amount of straw use. But, tackling everything at once can seem like a lot! Habits are hard to break and commitments like becoming vegan can be really challenging! The most important thing to remember is that some change is better than no change.
This is not to say that by you occasionally remembering to split your rubbish into recycling and general waste, and doing nothing else is considered a conscious effort because let's face it, it's not. We need to strive to be making changes and making an effort. We can make the world a better place by starting off small and then challenging ourselves to do the next change. It's about improvement! Not about perfection!
Here are some small things you can do to improve the environment and in turn, make the world a better place;
+ Buy yourself a metal/bamboo straw and keep it in your bag
+ Buy yourself a travel cup and keep it in your bag
+ Keep carrier bags in your car for your food shops
+ Keep a fold-down bag in your handbag
+ Start splitting your waste into recycle and general (if you haven't already)
+ Buy vegetables and fruit without plastic packaging where you can
+ Cut down on your meat intake
+ Change your regular milk for non-dairy alternatives
Again, these might seem like very obvious pointers and you might have read most of those and realised you're already doing them. If that's the case- that's amazing! But there is always more that we can do. Think about what your next step up could be. Also, you could choose to focus on the other topics we're discussing here today- you may have environment on lock down but there are other ways to make the world a better place too!
WORK ON YOURSELF
"In order to change the world, we must first change ourselves." Of course, we can still buy a bamboo straw and cut down on our meat intake without having 'worked on ourselves' if we're taking this quote literally BUT what I'm really talking about here, is working through our shit. So many people are unaware of half of their 'shit' but if you're here, reading this blog- chances are, you're aware to some degree! But being aware is only the first step, action is the most important step here. Your 'shit' is translated through your limiting beliefs of the world and of yourself, through the way you react to challenging situations or to people and through your fears that have been taught from childhood or that have been learned through painful experiences. Either way, these things make a big impact on our world whether you see it yet or not.
Here are some small ways you can work on yourself in order to make the world a better place;
+ Read Eckhart Tolle's book 'A New Earth'
+ Take a close look at your relationships with others; Do you find it difficult to be alone romantically or find yourself always wanting to physically be around people? Ask yourself why this is.
+ Take a look at how you treat the people around you. Be honest with yourself- do you treat them how you would wish to be treated yourself?
+ Start writing a gratitude list
+ Start actively working towards your dreams and goals. Make a plan of action.
+ Look at how you spend your time. Is it spent wisely? Do you make time for the people you love? Do you make time for your passions?
These can seem like trivial things when it comes to making the world a better place but like I said before, in order to make change, we have to be the change. You can make the world a better place simply by bringing your unique gifts and passions to the table. You can make the world a better place simply by treating those around you with kindness and compassion. When you take time to work on yourself, you will find you have more to give.
These are my tips on how to make the world a better place one little step at a time! I hope you liked this post as much as I liked writing it and as always, I hope you have an amazing week!
Until next time,
LUNA EDEN x
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