Navigating Towards a Life-Affirming Economy

While I empathize with these frustrations, I won’t dictate your path or how to make a living. What I can offer are four guiding principles that have helped me progress towards a life-affirming economy, even amid the pressures of daily expenses and uncertainties.

#1: Define the Changes You Want What changes do you aspire to implement? When I pose this question, the responses are frequently vague or overly ambitious. Expressions like "Combat climate change" or "Enhance social justice" lack specificity and practicality.

To effect real change, our goals must be clear and attainable. They can be bold and even unconventional, but they need to be precise enough to allow us to take tangible steps forward. For more detailed guidance, watch this brief video excerpt from a workshop I conducted last year: "A 10-minute tutorial to change the world".

#2: Establish Accountability Throughout my journey of challenging norms, I’ve learned the importance of sharing my intentions and specific next steps with others.

This could be as straightforward as sending a daily text to a friend outlining your tasks and following up at day’s end, or it might involve more public commitments. A great example of this is the Matereality marathon, which propelled my progress significantly.

#3: Connect with Like-Minded Individuals Transforming the global industrial landscape can be isolating and overwhelming. It’s essential to find your community—those who inspire you, challenge your thinking, and provide support even when you falter.

If you're seeking a community, consider enrolling in the upcoming POSSIBLE FUTURES Intro to Decolonial Sustainability course. The collaborative approach of this program aligns perfectly with this principle.

And don’t forget to engage with nature; check in with local wildlife for inspiration. Their resilience can be a reminder of the change we wish to see!

#4: Seek Positive Inspiration Amid the chaos, it’s crucial to focus on positive progress. Although the challenges can be daunting, steering towards uplifting experiences can be transformative.

When considering your next steps, ask yourself: 1. Does this action feel genuinely uplifting? 2. Will it contribute to my desired change?

A resounding "yes" to both questions typically points me in the right direction.

Articulating My Vision for Change

What is the change I aim to create? My vision for a life-supporting economy is vast, so I’ve narrowed it down to a few actionable objectives:

• Challenge systemic beliefs and practices that foster denial and damage.
• Provide access to viable, life-supporting alternatives.
• Shift the mindset of industrial decision-makers from "profit-first, endless growth" to "life-first, sustainable growth."

These goals are ambitious, and I’m continually refining my approach to maximize impact.

If you're interested, I recently shared insights on systemic challenges in the fashion industry in my post, "Why the emperor of sustainable fashion is as naked as ever — And what the apparel industry needs to do now if they are serious about sustainability".

A Sustainable Path Forward These principles may sound simple, yet they are profoundly complex. By being clear about our goals, holding ourselves accountable, surrounding ourselves with supportive communities, and focusing on positivity, we can navigate the path towards meaningful change.

Will these efforts truly transform the world? The answer remains uncertain, but I believe it’s the most viable option given my current understanding of what is needed. Not pursuing this work feels like pure madness.

I invite you to share what changes you are pursuing and how I might assist you. Feel free to leave a comment or visit my website for further information.

As you engage with this content, it’s likely you recognize that additional corporate sustainability targets and ESG strategies alone won’t resolve the underlying issues. Despite significant investments in these initiatives, we continue to witness an increase in waste, inequality, and biodiversity loss.

If you resonate with this perspective, consider subscribing to my newsletter, where I explore innovative strategies for transforming the industrial model and provide practical tools to help realize a life-serving economy.

For those eager for insightful, data-driven narratives on ESG, join the discussions in the Matereal World substack, where I encourage sustainability professionals to engage seriously with the concept of “being the change.”

Be sure to follow and subscribe to my Medium articles, where I share a variety of content related to the journey of Industrial Healing.