7 Ways to Tend to a Warming Earth

Do you feel hopeless about climate change? Is the task of addressing it so huge and daunting that you don’t take any action? If you answered yes, you are not alone.

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Do you feel hopeless about climate change? Is the task of addressing it so huge and daunting that you don’t take any action? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Yet there’s a critical mass of us who want to halt the destruction of our planet. If more of us woke up to what we can accomplish, we would create a sea change.

Buddhism teaches that there are seven factors of awakening. These qualities naturally manifest in moments of spiritual awakening, but they’re also qualities you can intentionally cultivate, opening yourself to being more awake in the world—for yourself, for others, for the planet.

These seven factors—mindfulness, curiosity, energy, joy, relaxation, concentration, and equanimity—can be practiced and realized in any area of your life, be it at work, at home, on the yoga mat, or beyond. When you apply them to addressing climate change, you have a roadmap to enlightened, skillful, and effective action, and being a changemaker becomes part of your spiritual path. Climate action begins to be a source of nourishment for you. Instead of being overwhelmed by hopelessness, you make a difference.

Here’s how to apply each factor to your path as a climate advocate.

1. Mindfulness

To practice formal mindfulness meditation, find a comfortable seated position—upright but relaxed. Close your eyes or keep them slightly open with your gaze lowered, and lightly bring your awareness to your breath. Breathe naturally. Maybe you feel the movement of air coming in and going out through your nostrils, or maybe you feel it in your abdomen. In either case, just enjoy it, and when your attention wanders—and it will—gently and kindly bring it back to the inhalations and exhalations.
Although your focus is on the breath, your attention is not narrow. You’re also aware of what’s going on in your body, mind, and surroundings. Focusing on the breath allows you to stabilize your mind, and in this way, your awareness gains clarity.

In addition to formal seated mindfulness meditation, you can also practice mindfulness at any time as you go about your daily life, and this is a game changer in moments of stress or anxiety. It can help you find stability, allowing you to take wiser, more compassionate action. So, if you find yourself getting triggered by your climate denying neighbor or news of rising sea levels, take a moment to come back to your breath.

2. Investigate Reality

Yes, there’s a lot of bad news when it comes to the environment, and many people find it so depressing that they avoid the news. But if we want to do something about climate change, we need to understand the reality of the problem and the possible solutions. There are solutions!
Be curious about what is happening in your world—stay informed. Yet avoid endless doomscrolling, which will only make you feel helpless. Instead, look for material that both honestly grapples with the challenges we face and centers solutions. Bill Mckibben’s Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization is one great place to start, but there are many other informative and inspiring resources.

3. Effort

In Pali, this factor is called viriya. Effort is just one of its possible translations. It could also be called energy, diligence, determination, or putting in the work. This factor calls on you to energetically volunteer for environmental organizations, to show up at peaceful protests, to write letters to politicians, to engage in skilful conversations with your friends and family—or to do whatever work it is that your mindfulness and investigation leads you to.

4. Joy

When you bring joy to bear in your activism, you’re less likely to burn out, and you’re more likely to inspire others to join you in your efforts. Not every action you take is going to be what is conventionally considered enjoyable or fun, but if you pay mindful attention, you might discover a subtle joy or satisfaction in the work that feels good. Allow your attention to linger on that pleasant feeling.

Also, consider ways of engaging in activism that bring people together in positive, refreshing ways. There are so many possibilities: hold protests with food, music, and companionship instead of anger; organize tree plantings; or raise money for environmental organization with concerts, dinners, or nature walks. Be creative with your joy, and always take the time to celebrate environmental wins.

5. Relaxation

The thing is, you can only go full tilt for so long, then you need to rest and recharge. The factor of relaxation balances the factor of effort. With mindfulness you come into awareness of what is happening in you and around you, and in this way, you discover which factor to cultivate in any given moment. When relaxation is what’s called for, take a break, get the sleep you need, or maybe go for a hike. Many people find that spending time in nature is a particularly powerful way to relax and reduce stress.

6. Concentration

When you’re plagued with climate anxiety, one-pointed concentration is a powerful antidote. To practice concentration, you do whatever it is you’re doing without getting bogged down with thoughts about other things. When you’re collecting signatures, you just collect signatures. When you’re making a poster, you just make the poster. The magic is in that one little word: just.

7. Equanimity

On this path of taking a stand for the climate, there will be disappointments, setbacks, heartbreak. There will also be progress, of course, but in most cases, it will be slow. If you want to get anywhere with this work, you need to be committed over the long haul, and that requires equanimity.

Equanimity—not to be confused with indifference—means maintaining a balanced mind regardless of what is happening around you. You don’t become overwhelmed or frustrated when things don’t go as you’d like them to. You simply take a breath—and with care, kindness, and patience—you find another way.