January 2, 2023

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A Sustainable 2023 Starts With You! Create A Future To Look Forward To

Are you looking forward to 2023? I hope so. Now more than ever, we need encouraged and motivated people to make a difference. To contribute to our planet - the paradise which sustains our lives. Although there are many ways to be sustainable, we overlook one: how you can make a meaningful impact. I do not mean recycling or going zero waste. What I mean is who you are as a person. How do you fit in with your uniqueness and strengths? Sustainability has all opportunities open for you. What matters is if you are willing to discover them.
Written by Veronika Tietz

2022, what a year. It has been a wild ride – positive and negative. Sustainable issues are more significant than ever. I would even say that every day the pressure to implement sustainability increases. Luckily, a sustainable 2023 starts with you. It is wonderful to have you on board. No pressure 😉 but I want to show you why you are important in the sustainable transitions discourse.

There is one thing I want to clarify before we dive into creating a sustainable 2023 worth looking forward to. Many believe that pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is all about reducing your carbon footprint, recycling, avoiding plastic or becoming 100% zero waste. Although those endeavours are desirable, they are only partially making a difference. 

New Year Sustainability

Instead, what can really make a difference and contribute a meaningful impact in our world is YOU – pursuing or fulfilling your dreams, desires and needs. Of course in light of sustainable principles. Therefore, I want to equip you with a different perspective and provide you with some fresh air about how to start a sustainable 2023. You came to the right corner of the internet.

Before you underestimate your potential to create real change, I want to show you why you play a crucial role in creating a sustainable world.

Why you are the most important resource for a sustainable 2023

Social sustainability is an overlooked topic. Humans created a big mess over the centuries until now. Now we have to find the proper detergents to clean up. Moreover, we need to find solutions for the chaos so that it does not occur again. A world without enough empowered humans who want to create a sustainable and desirable future is prone to fail.

We have a human, not a science or technology problem. I believe that we can invent as much as we want, but if we fail to address the societal and environmental problems from a societal perspective, we will continuously have to deal with immense challenges instead of developing our lives in the best way possible. Does it make sense to you?

Focus Here

Related article: 7 Powerful Ways To Focus On What Is In Your Control

Do you know the quote, “If I only had an hour to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my axe” by Abraham Lincoln? Imagine that you are the axe. If you invest time into reimagining what you really want from life (at the moment in time, it can always change), how you can contribute to a more sustainable world and what you have to do to create a future worth looking forward to, you are already better equipped.

45 minutes is all you need to make you competent in becoming more sustainable. In fact, to create a sustainable 2023. 

Humans are trouble maker

Although humans are the cause of a lot of trouble, we do not focus enough on the human mindset to achieve real change. In 2023, I want to change that. I will do my best to empower as many people as I possibly can to make 2023 count. I hope you are one of them. 2023 where we lay the foundation to create a future worth looking forward to. 

See it as a chance to have a say. To become part of creating something better where your needs are met. Where you can live a life true to yourself. Focus on what is important to you. Indeed, you will gain more clarity and confidence to make decisions that benefit you, others and the environment.

A sustainable 2023 can not happen without you – we need all hands on deck. Are you looking forward to 2023? What are your goals? What does your vision look like? 

Put those New Year’s resolutions aside and focus on what is really important: You

You are not here to optimise or improve yourself. For a sustainable transition, we need people who know or are willing to discover what is truly important to them. One of my favourite ways to figure this out is by creating a vision board.

The Oxford dictionary defines a vision board as “a collage of images and words representing a person’s wishes or goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation.”

Reimagining a future worth looking forward to can be a fun activity. But where to start? What does it look like to envision a sustainable 2023?

Flower Vision Board Planner Ink-Friendly Vision Board Planner

I created two vision board planners to make it easier and more fun for you to start envisioning a brighter future. The planners shall guide you in making positive and meaningful changes – to achieve your aspirations and goals. 

What is important to me is to not dictate what you should do with your life. My role is to simply inspire you to become more confident and positive about making sustainable choices and looking forward to the future.

 

Real change starts with you. 

Creating a sustainable 2023 has never been easier

You might wonder what the difference between those two vision board planners is. Simply put:

Sustainable 2023 Vision Board

The My 2023 Vision Board Planner is colourful with more visual elements like dried flowers, playful patterns etc. This vision board planner is ideal for digital use. You can easily reuse it if you do not mind the 2023 on some pages. 

Sustainable Vision Board Planner

The Vision Board Planner is a more print- and ink-friendly version. It entails the exact same pages, but in black and white with minimalistic black-and-white visualisations. It is not bound to a specific year, thus you can reuse it for the coming years.

 

You can find both planners in my Etsy Shop ReSustainability.

Use the code SAVE50 to get a 50% discount on both vision board planners!

Additionally, I have created a detailed description of how you can make the best out of those vision board planners. Here is a shortcut to the little instructions: INSERT POST LINK

 

I’m looking forward to creating a sustainable 2023! Full of wonders, magic and a future worth looking forward to!

 

Big hugs!



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6 Key Competencies In Sustainability For The 21st Century

Sustainable development requires societal change and societal change starts with us. If we actively decide to evolve and expand our current knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, we have the chance to become the change we want to see in the world. Moreover, we need to take action with respect to real-world sustainability problems. An effective way to make a difference is to learn about the key competencies in sustainability. Those competencies create a nurturing ground where we can build the future we want. Instead of being a passive citizen, you can become engaged and empowered. Sometimes this can be as easy as expanding your competencies.

Sustainability Podcast: WHO’S GONNA SAVE US

The WHO’S GONNA SAVE US podcast is about the heroes who will enable the world to avert the worst impacts of a climate disaster: people like you and me. Questions about “Why do we have to do it?” are changed to “How are we going to do it?” This podcast provides you with inspirational stories from people who simply want a better future. A future where we are not threatened by the climate crisis. How they are doing it is wonderfully discovered by the host Jo Lauder and her team.

Sustainability Thinking: The World Is Ending. What Are You Taking With You?

In view of the many crises we need to overcome, it can feel quite daunting. Too many think they do not have enough of what it takes to make our world sustainable. It might be true because they think in a way that does not encourage action. Thinking differently has been frowned upon for too long. But that’s what we need: the diverse capabilities of all human brains. Sustainability thinking can become a successful pathway to deal with environmental issues, social unrest and economic collapse. A sustainable future depends on the way you imagine it. Make the most out of it!

Can The Tragedy Of The Commons Be Solved With Economic Degrowth?

Change is inevitable. What should we do when a number of people cling to a system that is harmful but the norm? Economic degrowth is mocked by the corporate world and governments. Although it seems irrational to continue an economic system that is based on exploitation and destruction, there is little openness to rethink our global economies. Does a remedy exist? Imagine what a future that favours prosperity and sustainable development could look like. I have difficulty imagining a sustainable global economy. Let me introduce you to degrowth and the tragedy of the commons. Two concepts not paired before!

Sustainability Mindset – A Mindset For A Better World

A Sustainability Mindset helps us to understand complex systems better. Through awareness about everything that’s going wrong, we create the ability to step one step back and reflect on the situation. A Sustainability mindset helps us to effectively analyse complex challenges and generate appropriate solutions. Embracing Sustainability has never been easier by applying the 12 principles of a Sustainability mindset. We don’t always need cutting-edge technology. Sometimes real change comes from within us; to create the impact we want to see in our world. Sustainability is not difficult nor hard, it’s everything good we want to create. For us, for others, for the planet.

Benefits Of Embracing Sustainability With Music

Music makes the world go round. It is a vital part of our everyday lives, brings joy and helps us feel better. Moreover, music has the incredible power to affect our mood, change our outlook on life and inspire us to make a difference. You might have heard the phrase ‘Music can change the world’, so let us use music to find our motivation and change the world with our favourite tunes. I want to show you what this can look like with one of my motivational songs, which helps me to refocus and continue believing: I can do that!

The Trouble With Greenwashing And Why It Sabotages Sustainable Development

With an increasing interest in sustainable consumption, some companies will always take advantage of the situation to make more money. Greenwashing is a form of false advertisement to make us believe that a company’s service or product is environmentally friendly. Misleading information occurs mostly when the marketing strategy is only focussing on positively impacting the cash account instead of the environment. However, greenwashing can occur unintentionally due to a lack of transparency. Both cases need to be avoided; communicating the actual environmental impacts to support a sustainable transition is everyone’s responsibility. From industries, politics and the public.

Abundant Thinkers In A (Resource) Scarce World

There is enough for everyone in terms of infinite resources like love, joy, money, and success. An abundant mindset allows for positivity and resilience to thrive and this attribute is urgently needed to achieve sustainable outcomes all over the world. We are consuming finite resources like there’s no tomorrow but are very frugal with abundant resources. Funny, isn’t it? Developing an abundant mindset in the right direction will allow us to become the solution providers we need. You can see them as real heroes. I bet you can become one of them. Let me inspire you to become an abundant thinker in a resource-scarce world.

Do Your Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions Pass The Test? Find Out More…

Following through with New Year’s resolutions is a rewarding feeling. When we stick to accomplishing the changes we want to see in our lives, we feel empowered, happy and invincible. Imagine we could use this power to make our world a better place. It is possible, but we need to do some pre-work that will bring us on the right path to greatness. Too often, we put a spoke in our wheel. It is not only bad for our self-esteem, but also for our planet which is in urgent need of sustainable action. Let’s prevent our resolutions from dissolving into hot air!

Did The Patagonia Founder Pave A Way To A Sustainable Future?

In our fast-moving world, it is easy to jump from news to news. Unfortunately, it means that we often neglect important information. In that context, I feel like the news about the Patagonia founder was swept under the rug too quickly. Do you remember what happened? Don’t worry if you don’t because I want to bring up this old news again. Non-billionaire Yvon Chouinard decided to give away his company, Patagonia, to tackle the climate crisis. It is a significant decision because perhaps we are dealing with a pioneering act that might shake up the business world. If we don’t let it fall into oblivion.

7 Comments

  1. Tahila Mongoya

    Really great insights here, love your blog

    Reply
  2. Lindsey

    Love these ideas and resources! Having a vision with a plan is such a great way to accomplish what you want in a meaningful way. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Fransic verso

    That’s awesome, never tried to do a vision board before but would love to try it. Great explaining about why. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Natalie Perry

    Can’t wait to check out the vision board planner! I love the sustainability tips. Great 2023 goals!

    Reply
  5. Jeanine

    This is fantastic and so practical I love the “focus here” diagram…so much is out of our control but how we react and what we do personally is not… and focussing on the things that matter to US is a great place to start…

    Reply
  6. Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)

    Very good information and encouraging regarding being sustainable. I appreciate you sharing this post. 🤗

    Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)
    Letstakeamoment.com

    Reply
  7. Edith

    Oh, you are so right about the societal issue and the fact we need to focus more on humans than the rest. It’s all about connecting with one another. That’s why I have created a collaborative address book on my web to help local stores and brands thrive! Because what we need is to go outside, meet real people, in our villages, towns, and cities at local stores and cafés, and support our community! Beautiful board as well, thanks!

    Reply

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