September 26, 2022

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The Power of Words: Why We Should Change The Way We Talk About Sustainability

Words are a wonderful way of bringing forward our ideas. Usually, we underestimate the power of words. Nonetheless, words influence our behaviour, feelings, desire and fears. The simple ability to communicate with words gives us the unique and powerful choice to change our life. We have the choice to either destroy or build our future; the choice to change the narrative for our benefit or disadvantage. Are we bringing our forces together to create the sustainable world we need? Are we going to give the decision-making power to those who don’t care about us or are we taking matters into our hands?
Written by Veronika Tietz

Every day we are surrounded by a variety of words. Without words, we would have a hard time expressing ourselves. We use words intentionally: to uplift, influence, convince, harm or inspire. Even more, skilled strategists can manipulate us easily with words. However, we underestimate the power of words too often; news, advertising, social media, personal messages etc., influence our well-being significantly. It can also impact our behaviour without us noticing. Keeping up with the floods of information makes it increasingly complicated to distinguish right from wrong, true from false and valuable from invaluable.

In fact, our quality of life* is largely influenced by the power of words. This makes sense because one word can change our whole mood – positive or negative. Moreover, our linguistic abilities determine whether or not we contribute to our own well-being. In addition to the many negative media reports, people tend to speak lowly of themselves and contribute to a distorted self-perception. You see, we shouldn’t underestimate the power of words, especially regarding our well-being.

 

The power of words and our quality of life

*Quick note: 

Quality of life = intangible feelings like happiness, health and comfort

Standard of living =  availability of measurable wealth and material comfort to a person, community or society

 

What does the power of words have to do with Sustainability? In every sense, Sustainability contributes positively to quality of life* and standard of living*. In connection with Sustainability, we hear or read words like complex, expensive, difficult or challenging. The more we expose ourselves to a similar narrative, the more we internalise the message. That is good when it contributes positively to our well-being, but it’s problematic when it supports helplessness, confusion and inaction. 

Achieving Sustainability depends on how its meaning and interpretation are presented to the masses. If we highlight all the opportunities contributing to a better life, we feel more motivated to participate. If we focus solely on the challenges and don’t give room to find solutions, we miss the chance for real change.

For example, the more we hear about the climate crisis’s negative impacts the more we feel helpless and discouraged. Consequently, negative news affects our emotions and we feel increasingly unsafe in our actions. Words are powerful tools, but if the narrative favours inaction rather than action, we will have deep problems reversing the crises. Words destroy but also create our future. We choose the way we use words and how we interpret what others say. Words have a perpetual role in our lives.

Why do words matter so much for Sustainability?

We use words to express ourselves – our emotions, ideas, wants, needs and desires. It is scientifically proven that words shape our lives. The meaning of words significantly influences our perspective on the world. Our beliefs are shaped by words. Our behaviour is driven by words, and words create our world.

The reason that words matter is because we are globally interconnected. We can easily gain knowledge about other perspectives, and news from around the world can reach us 24/7. How does the all-time receptivity affect us? What type of news are we more likely to read? Fake and hateful news is an immense problem in our modern world. It doesn’t only increase our feelings of helplessness and fear, but it also distorts reality.

Additionally, the diversity of news content is steadily decreasing. Social media is not very helpful here as it homogenises the type of news we receive. Helplessness is the feeling I get when I read Sustainability related information. The focus of the news providers is on conviction rather than solutions. Thankfully, the narrative in the Sustainability space is changing.

Sustainability Quote

Pinterest: Reimagine Sustainability

Our words, our choice

What if we used words to shape our world in a more sustainable way? One of the reasons Sustainability goals are difficult to achieve is because we portray them as difficult. As a matter of fact, achieving Sustainability is pretty simple because we already have what we need, but we are not picturing how easily it can be done.

Thus, words are important when we define our reality because we choose our words. When we have a choice, we have the power to change something. Our habits are shaped by our words. If we get up every morning and think “Let’s seize the day”, it’s a lot easier to get started. If we get up and think “ I don’t want to get out of bed” then we will have a difficult time pursuing what we want to do during the day. It can be as simple as that.

Why we should take care of our perception of information

As you can see, it’s important to understand how words shape our lives and how we perceive ourselves in the world. If we use words such as failure or incompetence, we decide to stay on a pathway that doesn’t benefit us and can cause us harm. How we use words determines if we succeed. Instead of using the words failure or any other related terms, switch to using words related to opportunities, possibilities and solutions. Fear will always be a companion, but that is okay. You decide if fear determines your life, or alternatively, you can simply acknowledge it as a signal of the unknown, full of opportunities.

Not gonna lie, it takes practice and the ability to use words for your own benefit won’t come overnight. Our environment is not very helpful when it comes to mindfulness. Another obstacle is our habit of mindlessly scrolling on our phones; TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook etc. We are at the mercy of the content we are consuming. It’s a lot of content. According to Statista, we spent 147 minutes daily on social media platforms, worldwide! It is more than two hours per day, that is 894 hours per year! Crazy, isn’t it? 894 hours of content you have little choice over that influences your perspective, feelings and behaviour.

Every year, you spend 37 whole days (more than a month) on social media

How We Spend Our Time

Blue = Time spent sleeping (calculation based on 8h/day results in 122 days of sleep/year)

Green = Time spent working (calculate based on 40h/week, 260 working days/year results in 86 full days/year)

Red = Time spent on social media (147 minutes per day results in 37 full days/year)

 

Participating passively in the type of content you consume is dangerous. There is a lot of content that is not beneficial for your mental health and it harms your perception of the world. We already know that words are important when we define our reality, but what happens if we are continuously exposed to negative news? It manifests harmful beliefs and it leads to actions that might worsen the situation. 

The more we mindlessly consume, the more difficult it will become to take care of ourselves and the world around us.

 

Repetition: A curse and a blessing depending on the context

Our brain uses repetition to learn by searching for patterns and consistency. The more we expose ourselves to repetitive messages, the more they become engraved in us. Let’s inspect the narrative about the climate crisis. 

Mostly, you will find information about how the climate crisis developed (important information), who the baddies are, and all the promising but expensive technology (renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture, etc.). Then you find information on how you can contribute like recycling, less flying, buying greener, going solar etc. 

Less likely, you will find information from big news agencies about system failure and instability due to poor management practices. The issue is that we mostly focus on fighting the symptoms, but don’t address the crisis at its root: a global, homogenised economy that is based on the exploitation of humanity and the planet – for the benefit of very few people.

Why I refuse to speak of climate change

Personally, I assume change with a positive feeling. Using climate change does not reflect the magnitude of challenges we are facing. Therefore, I prefer to use the word crisis in my articles. It also draws the connection to other crises. It sounds weird to speak of biodiversity change, but when we say biodiversity crisis we know what’s going on. The same goes for poverty crises, mental health crises, ecosystem crises etc. 

If you want to understand the interconnectedness of crises, I suggest you to read this article: From A Carbon Tunnel Vision To A Holistic Collaboration Approach

We are right in the middle of many crises and for this reason, we need to treat them as such. If we portray them as change, it does not highlight the urgent necessity that we need to act now. Contrarily, if we speak of crises, we instantly want to avoid the consequences by mobilising our capabilities to prevent them.

On purpose, I  will continue writing and speaking of crises to highlight that we are in times of intense difficulty and danger. We are in times where we have to respond and make decisions. The earlier we realise that it is a crisis, the more likely we can change our minds. 

How can we use the power of words to address our crises accordingly?

We can make deliberate choices and consume the information which empowers us instead of making us feel small and insignificant. Stay conscious of the media you’re consuming. Actively decide to consume media favouring the best behaviour and that inspires you to take action. 

One of my favourite pieces of advice is: to go on a negative diet. Anything that makes you feel bad you muck out of your feeds. In regards to Sustainability, follow people who live inspiring lives and show you ways to change the world. Follow and connect with people who already do what you would like to do. Use those real-people stories to uplift your personal energy and improve your life. 

Moreover, improve your vocabulary. Identify words you’re frequently using. For example, I’m a person who gets trapped in a spiral of negative outlooks. It is something like internal propaganda. When I feel like I’m getting trapped in another swirl of negative and accusing thoughts, I picture a big red stop sign in my head. Usually, the intrusive thoughts stop, but sometimes I need to visualise the stop sign more often.

You see, the world doesn’t have to be complicated, and this simple change can bring more clarity to the complexity of Sustainability. Words can root deeply and we can decide to make a mark that lasts a lifetime and benefits us all. 

Using the right words to fuel Sustainability (emission-free of course)

To support you in this endeavour, I’ve created a Sustainability wordlist to help you use words that are beneficial in describing our Sustainability goals. These words reflect opportunities and achievements in order to communicate Sustainability positively. Use these words to create meaningful, inspirational and empowering messages to motivate action. It can also be beneficial to use more positive words when talking to a pessimist for example. Maybe, with the help of this list, you will be able to plant a seed of hope:

Sustainability Wordlist

The power of words: Sustainability Wordlist

Use your Sustainability wordlist to create the impact you want to see in the world

Our positive impacts can become endless if we are more intentional about how we encourage Sustainability. There are plenty of stories where one sentence or even one simple word changed someone’s life for the better. The right words make the difference. Our words create our future dreams. Now more than ever, we have the power to shape our future and turn our dreams into reality.

We are the decision-makers who decide whether to use words for our advantage or disadvantage. I encourage you to be mindful and look at the Sustainability wordlist. Do they bring a different perspective on how we can speak about Sustainability? Does it feel better? Encouraging? Inspiring people to take action?

The more we become aware of what is motivating us the better we are able to take matters into our own hands. The more positivity we let into our lives – especially with positive words – the more we can manifest and create a better future for us all. Imagine positive power taking over the world, making Sustainability easy to achieve.

I’m already using the magical power of words, consciously. Hence, I hope you can see this in my various articles. Sustainability has never been easier to achieve and I know that the way I communicate reflects the future I want for us: beautiful and full of opportunities.

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Why Sustainability Is Not Outdated Or Boring

We still try to define Sustainability and answer the “Why” although we are already in the tornado. It’s difficult to stay engaged or figure out our role in this chaoes of misinterpretation and misinformation. Wouldn’t it be easier if we agreed on asking only “How?” questions? How are we going to solve the climate crisis? How are we going to stop biodiversity loss? How are we going to change our exploitative economy? How can each of us find our purpose? I think we can do it! But firstly, let’s clarify that Sustainability is far from being outdated.

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!

Triple Bottom Line: The Foundation Of Sustainable Action And Performance

The Triple Bottom Line is a famous framework that incorporates three dimensions for sustainable decision-making: social, environmental and economic. It’s mostly used to measure sustainable business performance, but it can be applied anytime a decision has to be made. For too long has the economic dimension been at the centre of attention leading to exploitation of the social and environmental dimensions. The Triple Bottom Line encourages us to look beyond the traditional bottom line of business profit and make decisions that are socially and environmentally responsible. Sustainable development can only happen if we find the right balance between the three dimensions which benefit all of us.

Why Systems Thinking Is So Useful To Achieve Sustainability

Systems thinking should become one of the number one approaches to solving societal challenges. It’s a problem-solving approach that looks at a system as a whole. Making sense of the complexity in our world is not an easy task, but mastering the principles of systems thinking can bring us one step closer to achieving sustainable goals. Rather than isolating parts of a system (like linear thinking does), systems thinking is the ability to understand systems as a whole and the dependent relationships. With systems thinking, we have a much better chance to find the solutions which fit.

Reimagine Sustainability: Create The Impact You Want To See In Our World

Reimagine Sustainability is about creating the impact we need in our beautiful world. It’s not difficult anymore to find information about what’s going wrong, but it’s still not that easy to find useful and encouraging information about what we can do. Many of us want to become the impact and do something. But what? Where to start? Isn’t it already too late? Those are the questions you will find answers to in Reimagine Sustainability. In this article, I want to show you what Reimagine Sustainability is about – its purpose and missions – how it can support and help you on your sustainability journey.

World Kindness Day: Making An Impact By Being Kind

On the 13th of November, World Kindness Day is celebrated globally. The aim is to promote kindness and make it the norm. Simply put, kindness is the quality of being friendly, thoughtful and compassionate. There are different ways of promoting kindness, volunteering and donating being the prevalent ones. What we tend to overlook is being kind to ourselves. We are our strictest judges. As important as it is to show compassion to others, we also need to be kind to ourselves. Because how do we change the world? With one random act of kindness at a time – to us and others.

Sustainable Urban Living: Little Changes That Will Make A Big Difference

Living in urban areas is a challenge for sustainable transitions. Most cities were not built to be in balance with the natural environment. Hence, sustainable urban living is no longer a necessity – it is a must. It is not easy for citizens to live environmentally friendly and socially responsible because unsustainability is the norm in urban areas. Inefficient transport systems, massive amounts of waste, irresponsible use of energy and poor land and building management are only a few obstacles that put a heavy burden on the environment and societies. Is sustainable urban living the answer for us individuals to make a difference?

Embrace New Beginnings: The Power of Starting Over

Starting over on a sustainability journey is crucial for growth and progress. It grants you a fresh perspective, enabling you to challenge old habits, embrace innovative ideas, and reevaluate your practices. By adapting to the ever-evolving field of sustainability, you stay current with advancements and maintain relevance. Starting over allows you to course-correct, learn from past mistakes, and refine your strategies for significant impact. It reignites your passion, reminding you of the significance of sustainability and rekindling your motivation to create positive change. Embracing a new beginning inspires others to join you, fostering a collective effort towards a more sustainable future.

From A Carbon Tunnel Vision To A Holistic Collaboration Approach

Sustainable development has a very carbon-heavy taste to it. It has already been recognised that we need to move beyond the carbon-only approaches; to achieve effective, sustainable outcomes. What we experience globally is a Carbon Tunnel Vision. It’s a clever play on words to highlight our selective attention on mostly Net-Zero Goals. The Carbon Tunnel Vision framework aims to open our eyes to other human and natural crises. Global warming is only one part of the interconnected crises. Let’s not get trapped and miss our chances to fight our challenges effectively. I want to show you how easy this can be by taking a more holistic and collaborative approach.

ABC Of Sustainability: The Vital Role Of Words To Change The World

The alphabet is the foundation of many spoken languages. Communication is a necessary factor to understand our world better. Our choice of words determines our success or failure. The words we use reflect our knowledge, beliefs and values, thus underestimating the power of words can get us into trouble. However, trouble is what we are in considering the many challenges humankind is facing. Sustainability is associated with different terms and it is our choice if the words we use bring positive or negative results. Which words does it take to make our world a better place? Let us find out!

1 Comment

  1. Lamia Ibrahim

    Great

    Reply

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