Stocksnap photo by Ali Inay

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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.

Every morning for the past week, I have been walking down to the brook and dunking in the cold, fast flowing water. You might ask why a person would willingly do something so uncomfortable?

My desire to cold water dip started when I heard about it from my friend Akasha. She is a wild woman, she enjoys sleeping under the stars. She regularly goes for swims in the nearby lake or brook throughout the year. She has inspired several of her friends to do the same. I thought why not try it out?

Cold water dipping, or winter swimming, is known to have many associated health benefits. It can reduce pain for people with fibromyalgia or arthritis. It boosts circulation and the immune system. It has also been known to improve mood disorders and give dippers an overall feeling of well-being and energy. There are of course associated risks if a person goes too fast. Death by neurogenic cold-shock and hypothermia are real risks. But if a person goes slow, for example starting with dunking just half their body, they can build a tolerance to the cold.

An Immersion Story

I grab my towel and put on my jacket, scarf, hat and boots and head to the forest. As I walk, I begin to hear the gurgling, cool running brook. I am both terrified and excited about the idea of immersing in the frigid water. I shiver and feel vulnerable as I strip down to my bathing suit. I wrap my towel around myself and tread smoothly through the ice cold brook to the other side. The running water plays at my legs. I walk along the crunchy leaves dusted with snow and pick my way around rocks and sticks. The trees are my silent witnesses. I’ve made it to the edge of a beautiful, dark and deep pool with a small waterfall. Intent on getting in without hesitation, I drop the towel and step into the ice water. I feel alive and thrilled about what I am doing. I feel like I am part of the brook as I immerse to my neck level. One, two, three, I count in my head. Four, five, six, I focus on my toes dabbling at the surface. Seven, eight, nine, the rush of the water sounds delightful. Ten, and I quickly get to my feet. I grab my towel and firmly wrap it around like a big hug. I am dripping wet and with a head rush like the feeling of a high. I whisper my gratitude to Creator exuberantly. My body feels tingly and my mind is clear. I make my way back across the shallow stream, stopping to splash some water on my face. I dry myself, put on my clothes, and smile at the feat that I just overcame. 

Cold water dipping can be a powerful spiritual experience. It strengthens your will power as you empower your mind while your body submits to your intentions. It makes you feel in control. It boosts self confidence. It feels like an accomplishment to overcome the desire for comfort. It can start with a cold shower, and then evolve to wading in brooks or lakes. Pairing it with an intention to overcome fears or obstacles in your life can also be very empowering.

When dipping in lakes, rivers, or the ocean, it gets you actively involved in a relationship with nature. The surroundings are serene and peaceful and add to your overall experience. Sharing your enthusiasm and delight with the water is giving back. Cold water dipping is one of the many ways that we can benefit from a relationship with nature. So the question is what are other ways that we can give back?


Resources:

Huttunen P, Kokko L, Ylijukuri V. (2004). Winter swimming improves general wellbeing.
Int. J. Circumpolar Health. 63:140–4.
Knechtle, B., Wa´skiewicz, Z., Sousa, C.V., Hill, L., and Nikolaidis, P.T. (2020). Cold Water Swimming—          Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public      Health. 17 doi:10.3390/ijerph17238984
Manolis, A.S., Manolis, S.A., Manolis A.A., Manolis, T.A., Apostolaki, N. , Melita, H. (2019) Winter Swimming:  Body Hardening and Cardiorespiratory Protection Via Sustainable Acclimation. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 18 (11): 401-415.