OH! Magazine - Australian Version November 2018 | Page 28

( HEALTH )
HOW TO LIVE A LIFE WITH
COMPASSION
Gemma Davis shares her top tips for cruelty-free living.
ompassion has the ability to bring
a wealth of happiness and is the
idea behind the latest movement of living
life that is more kindhearted. This concept
aligns with popular buzzwords such as
‘vegan’, ‘cruelty-free’, ‘organic’ and
‘natural’.
C
Compassionate living radiates from
within, so it’s important to first be kind to
yourself, as this will overflow to the people
in your life. Next time you go for a walk,
set a goal like smiling to five people who
pass by you.
Opt for clean beauty
There’s a reason why the world is shifting
towards being more conscious and
mindful – it’s been impacted by the likes
of
frightening
health
statistics,
environmental changes and devastating
animal rights issues coming to light.
Here are a few tips to help you live life
with more compassion.
Reduce your meat intake
Choosing to cut-down on meat and dairy
products in your diet has many beneficial
factors. A plant-based diet emphasis
fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans and
nuts which many of us don’t eat enough
regularly. The increasing trend of being
vegan or vegetarian has increased the
demand for alternatives to many of our
favourite foods. It is now standard to have
meat-free options on the menu when
dining out or even coffee has various non-
milk options such as almond, macadamia
or coconut.
A great initiative trending is meatless
Monday, where you avoid meat
consumption for one day of the week.
Practise kindness every day
Treat everyday as a blessing and choose
to act kindhearted. A simple smile or
compliment to a stranger can really make
an impact on someone’s day! Can you be
helpful, nicer or relatable to anyone who
crosses your path?
28
OH! MAGAZINE ( OCTOBER 2018 )
It would be safe to say that many of us are
passionate about animal rights and don’t
want to support the act of unnessasary
and out-dated animal testing for beauty
cosmetics. Yet unbeknownst to many
consumers, many of the major beauty
brands are continuing this horrible, cruel
and painful practise. A simple way to
choose clean beauty products is checking
the packaging to confirm it is cruelty-free,
vegan and PETA-certified. This will
confirm they don’t harm precious animals
in the production of their products.
Lastly, do some research and become
familiar with brands that are kind to
animals and your skin. Trust me, you will
feel great for it on the inside and out!
Share your knowledge
A plant-based diet can make us more
aligned with the earth, which can help us
to feel more compassionate, loving and
calm. Spread your kindness and empathy
towards animals and share your knowledge
about all the amazing benefits of limiting
meat and dairy consumption. A great way
to do this is by sharing a plant-based
meal with loved ones! It is only when we
know the truth behind how our food gets
to our plate, the hidden costs, and the
options of living or cooking in other less
damaging ways, that change becomes
possible!
An eye-opening statistic shows animal
agriculture is responsible for 18 per cent
of greenhouse gas emissions, which is
more than the combined exhaust from all
transport put together!
The more people who support the rights
of animals and sustainable living to help
the planet has the potential to make an
enormous impact.
Gemma Davis
Gemma is a naturopath, the founder of
The Compassionate Road, and the co-
author of a cookbook titled The
Compassionate Kitchen, which is packed
with over 70-delicious cruelty-free,
plant- based recipes.