If you believe, as I and many others do, that we are in a state of biospheric collapse and planetary emergency, you are going to feel some cognitive dissonance watching the mainstream world go on around you.
People driving to Home Depot, shopping on Amazon, complaining about the price of gas, continuing to buy new furniture, buying so many new clothes even though our closets are jammed, accepting single-use plastic without question, flying, engaging in purely leisure travel, continuing to invest in 401ks/ Wall Street — the list is endless; these are just a few examples.
But if you truly believe we are in a state of emergency, yet you don’t act as if we are in a state of emergency, you’re going to be experiencing a whole nother level of dissonance.
Acting according to your beliefs even if it’s going against the mainstream can be really uncomfortable and you can be ostracized and all sorts of things. Even the milder versions of ostracism like the fake churchy side-eye smile get really exhausting and sad and lonely after a while.
So you have to stay focused on your core awareness if you want to stay the course. I feel it’s a good deal. There’s less cognitive dissonance if you go ahead and act on your beliefs, than if you let the world around you catch you up in the BAU flow of things. A certain peace of mind ensues; it’s priceless and will carry you through the tough times.
There are other prizes as well. Starting with your wallet. And newfound skills. And genuine community. Freedom from being panicky when consumer supply chains break down, electric power goes out, etc. Focus on what you’re gaining, not what you’re giving up.
Oh, and as more of start living deeply in accordance with our knowingness about the planetary state of emergency, We will be creating an ever larger and more visible stream. Which will make it easier for others to act in accordance with the state of planetary emergency.