Conscious Consumerism…that awake and aware state of being when we consciously bring something or someone into our lives which supports, uplifts and inspires us to live more fully. Whether it be new drapes, a trip to the grocery, or making a new friend; when we are awake and aware we are more likely to make good decisions for ourselves. Decisions that are in alignment with who we are and the Vision we hold for our lives. When these conscious moments happen they not only save time and conserve our resources but ultimately they feel glorious and set us free.
Free from what I call the bind of “consumer confidence” — an economist’s way of evaluating our countries financial health; ie: a healthy economy is when people are buying stuff. Hmmm, this seems suspicious. Do we need this stuff? Does this stuff support us in how we live or align with the Vision we hold for ourselves.
To me, our ability to consume consciously is imperative to creating The Conscious Home. For example, how do we know if blue is the “right” color for the bedroom? Or this Sofa vs that Sofa? Well, we don’t if we haven’t gotten in touch with the Vision we hold for our lives, and asked ourselves, “does this _____ match my Vision; the aesthetic vibe that I’m wanting to experience more of in my life (ie: Peace, Tranquility, Beauty or Joy)?” I can tell you if this blue or that blue will look good with your flooring or artwork, but in the end you know so much more about what works for you than I ever will. After all, it is your space your affecting, not that of your designer. So the next time your about to buy a bench or bedside table ask yourself, “Am I confident that this purchase is conscious?”, and notice what happens. You will soon be surrounded by things you love and value, things that uplift, support and inspire — true consumer confidence.
Happy nesting!
If you want to learn more about the role consumption takes in our society you may want to check out www.thestoryofstuff.com.
4 Comments
Alex. I can really appreciate what you’re saying about conscious consumerism. For me, checking in as you suggest, can mean the difference between emotional buying and buying with awareness and intent. Hearing you talk about this kind of consciousness, reminds me that objects have their own energy — and will affect both my home and my life. I appreciate your insights.
Thanks!
Karen Brody
The Love and Intimacy coach
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your input — that’s exactly it! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
All the Best, Alex
Alex…Perfect blog for today! I am headed back to Home Goods to take back impulse, emotional band aide purchases. I explained of our situation this past year so you know what I am speaking of. I make this mistake all the time. If it is not an over load of stuff ( man oh man have I had some dandy yard sales, my neighbors used to love when I would change decor or fine tune it) then I eat /bake/cook or I buy clothing ….always consuming never consciously! I am really working on that now …especially with the limited space of the apartment and I think I am starting to get the feeling for what I want in my space that makes me comfortable and at peace in my surroundings.
I love that! This is exactly what I was thinking about when I was writing. Good for you
& happy nesting!
All the Best, Alex
For quite some time now I have stopped buying stuff! I only buy what I love, here is what I do to (help myself) when shopping for myself or a client, I put in my cart everything I think I love, then as I continue shopping I really look at it and un-shop (put it back) if it does not fit my criteria. It helps me mentally as when I first put it in my cart I “buy” it, so that in its self calms me down, lol and then I make a conscious decision to either keep it or get rid of it. Hope this helps everyone. It did me.