We’ve all heard of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle—but have you ever considered how these simple things can actually be sacred, even spiritual, practices? Whenever we put love and intention behind our actions, we are tapping into the sacred side of life. Let’s look at how this can apply to sustainability.
Reduce: Minimize Consumption
In our hyper-materialistic world, the simple act of minimizing consumption is truly worth celebrating. Even in the health and wellness scene, we are constantly bombarded with advertising for the latest superfoods, vegan clothing lines, and ethically sourced beauty products, many of which we don’t need.
There is nothing wrong with having or wanting things in our lives, but so often we buy things, not because we really want or need them, but because we are on spending autopilot. One of the most sacred lessons we can gain from our spending habits is being mindful about when we are purchasing something because it will add value, joy, or fun to our lives, and when we are purchasing to fill a feeling of lack. Recognizing that we are full and abundant with or without that new dress is extremely powerful.
Reuse: Repurposing What You Have
This step is fun. There are so many awesome ways to repurpose what you already have (hello, Pinterest!). Finding new ways to use old items not only lets you to exercise your creativity, but it also allows us to consume less and value the things we already have. An out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new mindset runs rampant in our society, and to find the beauty and use in older items is a lovely change of pace. Hosting a clothing swap with friends, repainting an old dresser, or finding a million and one uses for old mason jars are all fun and Earth-loving ways to repurpose. With a sewing needle, thread and a few buttons you can even repurpose your old yoga mat into a laptop case. (link text)
Recycle: Recycling What’s Left
Consciously passing on whatever isn’t serving you is the final step to sacred sustainability. As we all know, landfills are overflowing with items that could so easily have been recycled in an eco-friendly way. When you take the small time to recycle your items properly, you are supporting both the Earth and those in need. Whether it’s by taking your clothes to a women’s shelter or simply separating your bottles and plastics from the trash, you can ensure that you let go of your items in the best way possible.
Kate Horodyski
Kate is a freelance writer, a wellness blogger, and she has trained as a yoga teacher and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Practitioner. You can find her online at www.myspiritualroadtrip.com and on Instagram @katehorodyski.
