Sustainability and Happiness: How Living a Green Life Can Bring Joy and Fulfillment

Sustainability and happiness are closely connected. Studies have shown that living sustainably can lead to greater life satisfaction and overall well-being. Catherine O’Brien, Ph.D. has conducted research that supports the idea that a sustainable lifestyle can lead to increased happiness.

One study conducted by O’Brien and her team found that individuals who were engaged in environmentally-friendly behaviours, such as recycling and conserving energy, reported higher levels of life satisfaction compared to those who did not engage in these behaviours. This suggests that taking action to live sustainably can have a positive impact on our emotional well-being.

Another study by O’Brien and her team found that people who felt a strong sense of connection to nature and the environment reported higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress. This supports the idea that being mindful of our impact on the environment and taking steps to protect it can lead to improved mental health.

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The connection between sustainability and happiness is also supported by the stories of three of the happiest people in the world of sustainability:

Paul Hawken, an environmentalist, author, and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to promoting sustainable living, has spoken about how his work in sustainability has brought him a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Julia Butterfly Hill, an environmental activist who famously lived in a redwood tree for over two years to protest logging, has said that her time spent living in nature was some of the happiest of her life.
Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, has spoken about how her work to protect the environment and empower women brought her great joy and satisfaction.

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There are several actions that the everyday person can take to live a more sustainable, happy, and fulfilling life:

Reduce consumption — One of the most impactful things we can do to live sustainably is to reduce our consumption. This can be done by purchasing less, buying second-hand items, and being mindful of the environmental impact of our choices.
Connect with nature — Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress, so it’s important to connect with the natural world.
Practice mindfulness — Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga, have been shown to increase happiness and reduce stress. They can also help us to be more present and mindful of our consumption habits.
Build community — Strong social connections have been shown to be one of the most important predictors of happiness. Building community can be done through joining a local environmental group, volunteering, or getting to know our neighbours.
Support sustainable policies — By supporting and advocating for sustainable policies, we can help to create a more just and sustainable world for ourselves and future generations.
Make sustainable choices — Simple choices like using reusable bags, recycling, and conserving energy can help reduce our impact on the environment and make us feel good about doing our part.

It’s clear that there is a strong connection between sustainability and happiness, and that living sustainably can lead to greater life satisfaction and overall well-being.

The stories of Paul Hawken, Julia Butterfly Hill, and Wangari Maathai, as well as the research conducted by Catherine O’Brien, provide further evidence of this connection.

By taking action to reduce consumption, connect with nature, and make sustainable choices, we can not only protect the planet but also improve our own happiness and well-being.

References:

O’Brien, C., & Mowen, A. J. (2017). Environmental behaviours and life satisfaction: Examining the role of pro-environmental self-identity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 49, 1–9.

O’Brien, C., & Steg, L. (2011). The relationship between pro-environmental behaviour and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(6), 725–743.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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