acting Application Chapter Two
reflection
What would you do if you were in Blake’s position? What helps you be resilient when faced with opposition?
Do you easily recognize things to be grateful for in your life?
What are some positive things you do on autopilot? Negative things?
31
analysis
Blake was confident that her solutions would be well received, but there was clear opposition from the community. This first challenge in the story provoked Blake to self-reflect. Blake didn’t realize that she was offering solutions to problems that weren’t recognized; because of that, she inadvertently insulted the community. A better approach would have been to identify what problems the people perceived themselves as having, and help them find solutions to those problems. Additionally, Blake was not cognizant of the sociocultural ramifications of the solutions she was presenting. You are connected to the river and the country when you drink from the river, so proposing that people drink bottled water suggested that it’s healthier to disconnect from nature. Proposing alternative solutions for cremation ceremonies challenged the local religious beliefs that one must end life in the place it started – the river. Setting up a riverside clinic implied that citizens were ignorantly poisoning themselves. Each suggestion created friction between Blake and the community because she did not do her research or immerse herself in the culture prior to offering a strategy.
Unknowingly, Blake exhibited the “savior complex,” which is easily recognized by others. She did not create buy-in and told the people what they needed, rather than asking them. When she got home, she was not in the mood to meditate. It doesn’t always feel like the right time to practice mindfulness, but the more we can integrate it into our daily lives, the easier it becomes. Because Blake made meditation part of her every day, auto-pilot took over and encouraged her to follow routine.
recommended reading
Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness: Active Methodology Toolkit 9
By Jacomo Fritzsche, Daniel Fischer, Tina Böhme, Paul Grossman
This toolkit uses mindfulness to teach sustainable consumption in three dimensions: personal, social, and ecological. Filled with educational resources and exercises, it's a great foundation for teaching sustainable consumption with a mindfulness lens.