From eco-anxiety to agency

I am making space to lean deeply into my emotions, reflecting on my drivers, getting clear on what my better future looks like, and spending time reconnecting to my communities of like-minded people. Because embracing the breaking point of an emotional wave, channelling our momentum once again, is how we can effectively navigate these times.

To effectively build our personal resilience in challenging times, we should first make space to sit with our feelings. Identify them. They could be overwhelm or burnout, anxiety or frustration – most likely, it’s a blend of emotions. All of these emotions are valid, entirely natural, human responses to a very real, multi-faceted problem; they signify that you have a deep level of empathy, care and connection to the situation we find ourselves in, and you’re certainly not alone.

I would encourage you to embrace these feelings more, check in with yourself regularly by asking how you are feeling, or journaling. Furthermore, ask yourself why you feel this way – your why is even more important, because it’s your guiding compass, helping you identify your core drivers, problems and passions, and keeping you going when times are tough.

Next, we should spend time visualising the future – not just any future, but one where those things that drive us, those problems we want addressed, and those things we want to achieve in our work have become a reality. What would our work look like in a future where sustainability permeates across all the people and organisations we collaborate with? What does the future look like after that challenging client surpassed a positive tipping point? What are we doing day-to-day in a future where we have sufficient help across our personal and professional networks? You could simply reflect, or describe your future in a diary, or even get creative and draw what your workplace, town or life looks like in a better future.

When we get clear on the future – one where things go right – we reconnect with what we’re working towards, and have a point to work back from. You can then ask yourself what does that mean for you this year? This month? This week? Reflect on what taking action looks like to you – what steps would not only help build this future but also feel rewarding and successful to you?

Lastly, we should seek community – reconnecting with existing networks that we’re a part of, or joining new ones. Whether local or global, in person or online, finding and engaging with communities can help combat feelings of isolation, reminding us that we’re not just one in eight billion people but, instead, are part of something bigger, taking collective action with many other like-minded people. Ask yourself, have you ever been part of a community that you really valued? What was special about it? Are there any groups local to your home that have caught your eye in recent times? Make a list, and perhaps even set an intention to meet with them sometime.

The wave of emotions that swell and make us feel like we are at breaking point aren’t a problem – but what we choose to do with them can be. If we choose to fully embrace them, take time to reflect on our why, paint a picture of what our better future looks like, while leaning on our professional and personal communities to help lighten our load, we can build resilience and learn to ride the waves.

Jake Causley is a trained eco-anxiety facilitator and sustainability professional with over five years of experience in higher education.  

If you would like to learn more about Jake’s eco-anxiety support offerings, message him on LinkedIn or email: jake_causley@hotmail.co.uk