The past few weeks have been challenging for the green movement around the world, because of one man’s actions. He won’t be named in this article, because publicity feeds his actions. I think, however, you know who I mean … This is a short piece to remind colleagues working so hard, keeping our planet alive and well, that this is too important to be wiped away by an ego or two, and that, by keeping making clear progress, every day, we will prevail.
You may be feeling that you need to make a stand against what is happening to environmental policymaking. You may be feeling hopeless when you see “dirty” projects re-introduced by force. These are both valid points of view, but perhaps the most important consideration is the end-game. What will those emotions do to help you, to help the environmental agenda to flourish? For many, anger and indignation move very fast from a force for good, to become a destructive force which blinds us to the wider implications. On the other hand, feelings of powerlessness remove our confidence and belief that “we can”, after all. Neither of these stances is actually productive or helpful, no matter how understandable it is.
There is a fable that the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, watched a spider repeatedly fail to climb a thread and build a web. He then watched as, through dogged perseverance, the spider built a web, a means of survival, and a thing of beauty. This is often used as a metaphor, alongside the saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. What this doesn’t take into account, however, is whether Robert the Bruce was hampering the spider, moving its silk, damaging its web building. For it is easy to be daunted when your hard work and good intentions can be cast aside with apparently cavalier disregard, or even actively hampered or prevented.
While you are reading this, you may find yourself feeling a little sad, deflated, irritated even. These things are SO big and SO important, what does a silly fable about an arachnid have to do with it? It’s simple. It’s an illustration of the pure power of keeping on, keeping on. There is a movement around the world, moving toward clean energy, clean fuels, cleaner ways of living. That is because humans need that to survive. Air quality and toxin-related mortality are big news driving big self-interested changes – the world’s politicians just don’t shout about it. This comes about from evidence-based research, data, scientific fact. Look at China if you doubt this works. Even deniers have come to accept the facts (and no I don’t mean the “alternative” kind) – the trouble is that they aren’t always taken seriously by a minority. And that is surely the point – they ARE a minority. OK they are a powerful minority, but their power will be transitory. “All things must pass” and, when they do, those of us backing green will still be here, working away to prove the benefits of clean, sustainable fuels and materials for our everyday lives. We will still be here, harnessing solar. We will still be here, rejecting packaging at the point of sale so retailers have to find a way to cope with it. We will still be here, proving that humans CAN make a collective change for good. And that’s the small-beer consumer angle. Those of you reading this involved in cutting-edge clean tech, clean energy and the wider sustainability industry know how much you are doing and how big a difference you are making. Believe it. You really are, and billions of us are grateful that you do.
So, when it gets touch, what CAN you DO, to help yourself to keep on, keeping on? First of all, you can make the choice to keep on. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? However, deciding to keep doing something which is being challenged and undermined is not always easy. It is always brave. ‘though. So make the decision to keep on with the support you give to green in all its guises. Choose bravery.
Next, you can focus on how that bravery, your green choices, make you feel. Focus on the benefits your choices bring to you and those you care about, right now. Don’t think about the distant future when you are considering your own motivation. Deal in the “now”. What is it that is making you burn with energy and passion? What is it that you are working for? What is so important about that to you, right now? Really identify what it is that motivates you, and appreciate quite how much you want to achieve success in your aims. You may want to consider how this is shaping your life goals, and really decide what your realistic life goals would be like when you have achieved them. How would that success be for you?
A key thing that we coaches always work with our clients to do is write it all down. Journal. Keep a log. Keep an online diary. Draw a mindmap. Build a visionboard. Whatever it takes for you to record your passion and what motivates you, so that it can keep motivating you, every day. Share it if it would help to motivate and focus you. Use it at home, use it at work. Dr Stephen R Covey taught us “Start with the end in mind”, so always keep your aims in focus. That way, you always know that you are heading in the right direction, whatever you do.
When you have written down or created your record of what is driving you on, the obvious (but often forgotten) next crucial element, is to look at it. Every day. If you need to change your life goals and motivations a little, then go ahead. Just don’t forget to write down a new log / diary note / mindmap / visionboard. Refer to it often and take a moment to reconnect with what you are about, what you are doing, and why. That moment of reflection in every day is what sets leaders and successful people apart. It is what enables them to drive on, despite the rocks in the road, toward their goals because they believe, they truly know, that they will prevail. This is how you will prevail.
There are a lot of additional steps that could be thrown into the mix, but this simple daily discipline will keep you focused on what is driving you on, and the benefit of that for yourself, and those around you. It is wonderful to have your motivation as a philanthropic, arms-wide-open, world goal. It simply isn’t deliverable on a small scale, every day. You may be working towards that massive goal, but remember to take every day as your brave step toward success. Small steps forward are worth every setback. You know what forward feels like. You know what you will see when you achieve your personal milestone. By reading this, you also have a handy reminder that knowing and feeling are all great, but actually doing is crucial too – and then reviewing the “do”. Regular practice makes a habit. Make purposeful progress your habit, by keeping on, keeping on every day.
I hope that this simple routine outline has been helpful as a reminder that small progress, even in the face of a lot of opposing “noise”, is still progress, is still valid, and is really helping. We will all get there, because we have to. Know that your work is prized by those of us who want a decent world for our children and their children. Thank you for all you do.