Although to this point we have been primarily concerned with reducing consumption for those of us who currently consume far more than we need, it’s vital to remember that there are vastly more people in the world who occupy the other end of the spectrum. I’m talking about people living in poverty. Underlying all this
TagBuddhism
12 Tested Tips to Build Your Self-Sufficiency
It’s not always easy to figure out our consumption sweet spot. On the one hand, we have the subjectivity of sufficiency. As Asoke Buddhists reasonably observed, individuals must determine for themselves what is enough. On the other hand, we have the objectivity of ecological constraints. There are real, concrete limits to what we can consume
7 Consumption Movements Lead the Way to Wellbeing
The Santi Asoke Buddhist Reform Movement of Thailand, the group I studied, were serious about reducing their consumption. They only had two suits of clothing (and no shoes), furnished their houses sparsely, had no cars, ate communally, and otherwise gave everything they owned to the collective. This is austere, to be sure, but there are
Understanding Sufficiency: 7 Ways to be Happy with Less
We’ve come to the T in the INTENT 365 project, which stands for Thrifty. Being thrifty, or not wasting money and resources, is a long-held American virtue that fosters material wellbeing. Material wellbeing starts with the ability to meet basic needs for food, water, shelter, and clothing, plus essential services like health and education. If you’re reading
Make Mutuality Mutually Supportive with These 5 Principles
Mutuality is all about treating each other with respect and consideration, even under conditions of asymmetric power (like parent/child). We definitely want mutuality for its own sake, but also because it sets a foundation for mutual support. Note that having a foundations doesn’t mean we have a house to live in. We have to build
8 Ways to Find Wellbeing in a Community Commons
The community commons plays a vital role in social wellbeing by knitting together the fabric of society and helping the interdependent individuals within it to thrive. Here are 8 ways to get the most out of commons-based relationships. Tip #101: Contemplate Communal Support Last week I wrote about how the concept of reciprocity improves current research
The Feeling’s Mutual: Energize Social Support through Give & Take
I have long romanticized living in a commune where people help each other freely, for the good of all. After living in an intentional community, I know that communal life is not all peace, love, and happiness. Nevertheless, I’m still drawn to the ideal. Especially when I think of all the people who are grappling
“SOS: Save Our Social Skills” 6 Ways to Rescue Kids Now
After a year of pandemic-induced isolation, we’re all suffering socially — especially kids. If we’re totally honest, we’d have to admit that a lot of kids didn’t have the best social lives to begin with. They’re often over-scheduled and under-socialized, thanks to too much homework, resume-building extracurriculars, and screen time. Now, as schools are reopening,
How Good Friends Help Us to Be Better People
Good friends offer more than a fun night out or a shoulder to cry on. Good friends also share our values and goals and influence us positively. This is the prime reason an intentional community forms – like the Buddhist community in Thailand I studied. Community members explained that it’s much easier to follow their
8 Environmental Exercise Examples that will Energize You
Living in an intentional Buddhist community in Thailand taught me about “right exercise.” For true physical wellbeing, exercise should be integrated into daily life and motivated by meaning. As Zen-inspired Buddhadasa Bhikkhu might say, “The broom sweeps the ground; the Dharma sweeps the heart.” And because most Thai Buddhists I know have an interdependent sense
Child’s Play: How To Boost Kids’ Physical Activity
The adults I know tend to be nostalgic about our childhood. We roamed freely around the neighborhood: riding bikes, playing tag, skating, climbing, and swinging until the streetlights came on. We lament how kids these days can’t or don’t get the same quality outdoor exercise. And it’s worse now that the pandemic has turned the
How to Get Fit for Life: 10 Tips to Integrate Exercise
Americans are certainly no strangers to exercise, though we seem to favor working out at fitness clubs. Just after New Years in 2017, Google searches for “improved health” saw a 315% increase in more specific queries for gyms. Unfortunately, this intent doesn’t always translate into action. I’m not crazy about gyms myself, but I do
How to End Hunger: 9 Powerful Ways to Feed the World
Hard to believe we’ve made to the end of the first month of INTENT 365 daily wellbeing tips! This month has been all about boosting our physical (and mental) wellbeing, a.k.a., getting “In-shape” via energizing food. Tips from week 1, week 2, and week 3 have spun out from the core lesson I learned during