Stocksnap photo by Ali Inay Sustainability coaching is a new and emerging field. It takes inspiration from climate change coaching which is growing in the United Kingdom (and perhaps other countries as well). The over-arching idea is to help people act on climate change and the eco-crisis. Let’s unpack the term so we can deepen our understanding. Sustainability is a very complex concept that has multiple meanings. We hear the term “sustainable development” which is entrenched in the same capitalist ideals that are causing the eco-crisis. We also hear about the sustainability of companies, meaning how far into the future will the company be viable. The version of sustainability that we are working with is a set of ideals for ecological and social responsibility. Sustainability is about having a lifestyle that is more in harmony with nature and that nourishes our body-mind-spirit. It is a direction rather than an end goal. It is a lens that we look through when we make decisions like what to eat, where to travel, and what to buy. Coaching is about helping people to help themselves. Coaches empower their clients to find meaning, make a vision, make decisions, and set goals. It is about keeping accountable to a person so goals will be achieved. It helps to have someone who believes in you and celebrates the successes with you. Coaches ask clients good questions that invite deeper reflection which leads to new insights. Coaching creates opportunities to identify creative solutions to obstacles. Coaching also helps clients to prioritize the most important actions needed to reach their desired goals. There is no judgment when a client doesn’t take an action, and coaches don’t give advice. All of this helps clients to feel empowered, find their inner calm, and feel in control of their lives. The marriage between sustainability and coaching is an empowering way for people to make real changes in their lives for the best interest of the planet and its inhabitants. It supercharges people’s good intentions to make sustainable life changes by keeping them accountable, helping to prioritize, and focusing their energy on what’s most important. It helps a client to identify what might prevent them from reaching their sustainable goals and come up with a strategy to overcome the obstacles. The actions that a client chooses are suited to their unique position in life and to their environmental and social interests and passions. Sustainability coaching presents a new solution for climate change and the eco-crisis. It is centered on behaviour change. It helps people to take steps away from over-consumption of resources. It helps people to move toward more eco-friendly options. The focus on active listening and asking good questions enables a caring and compassionate approach to helping people make changes in their lives. Every person on the planet could benefit from sustainability coaching. However, not everyone has the desire to make lifestyle changes. Sustainability coaching is for people who love nature, who care about their health, and who want to move forward on a sustainable path. It is for people who feel distressed about the eco-crisis. Action is one of the best remedies for lack of hope. I have a vision of widely accessible sustainability coaching available to people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, races, religions, and abilities. There are many sustainability coaches of different backgrounds in this vision and there is free coaching for the masses. The coaches would be paid by government, crowdfunding, or by individuals who can afford it. We need more ways to strengthen our efforts to slow down climate change and this is one of the ways that we can do it: through focused effort on incremental behaviour change. We have all of the knowledge that we need to live more sustainably, we just need the will power and the encouragement from a coach. Enjoy learning by video? Here is a 2 minute video explaining "What is Sustainability Coaching?":
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AuthorMay is a sustainability coach, consultant, and gardener working in Nova Scotia. Archives
July 2023
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