Those of us who live green tend to be passionate about the environment. We share what we know, we blog, we want to convert the world because, to us, it just makes sense to live the way we do.
The trouble is, not everyone agrees.
In fact, there are a fair number of people who don't believe there's any cause for concern. There are others who choose to ignore the warnings because it affects their bottom line. Governments won't take necessary steps to improve conditions and even experts debate whether or not we can make a difference.
Green living can be very stressful!
I was invited to read Stress-Free Sustainability: Leverage Your Emotions, Avoid Burnout and Influence Anyone by Adam Hammes.
This book is different from most books on sustainability. This one deals with the stress and burnout of trying to save the earth.
Using stories from his experience, the author teaches us how to identify and accept our emotions. He goes on to address several common frustrations which many in the green-living community face. For example, do you feel that you are a failure if you can't influence your friends and family? Or, when you hear someone talking about green-living, do you feel you must jump in and influence the conversation? Mr. Hammes shows readers that those kinds of limiting thoughts really don't serve us well and he teaches us how to overcome them.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the section on influencing people. When I first read the chapter title, I thought I wouldn't like the information. After all, "influencing" seems to be the realm of politicians and those who are trying to sell us something. Instead, I found the chapter to be enjoyable and interesting. It talks about listening to others and addressing their core concerns. Basically, it's a lesson in respect.
This book is for anyone who has ever felt frustrated or stressed about the environment ... or, for that matter, stressed about anything. It is easy to read and will leave you with a sense of power ... power to control the emotional turmoil of living a passionate, green life; power to share information in appropriate, effective ways; power to continue on as the earth's advocate.
If you'd like to have your own copy of this book, buy it HERE.
For more about Adam Hammes, visit his site, ecofluence.