What does footprint or ecological footprint actually mean?
The ecological footprint measures the amount of natural resources you use and the associated impact on the environment.
It includes the land and water needed for food production, housing, energy consumption, waste management and other activities.
Your footprint is a 'step' in your awareness process
When you really go into depth within yourself you will look at your place here on earth with more respect and gratitude. Your footprint is part of this. You will become more aware of your behavior, your (food) addiction and your contribution here on earth.
In this article we will help you become more aware of this topic, we will look at the possibilities and we will give you the necessary information to delve deeper.
We help people in their awareness process
During the retreats that we organize, people experience to what extent they have become emotionally dependent on the most common things such as food, drink, stuff (buying), but also the heavier subjects such as alcohol or other narcotics.
As an organization, we are committed to helping people with their awareness processes on a daily basis, where your footprint is an important 'step' in your personal development process. Within our retreats and community, we invite like-minded people to connect with each other. You are also cordially invited.
– Brahman Menor
Our footprint/ecological footprint is very high
OUR CULTURE LEAVES US NOT TO KNOW BETTER…
In our Western culture, we have been taught from a young age to consume (too much). Three meals a day, potatoes, meat, vegetables, snacks in between. Cookies, sweets and so on. The result? Health problems, Western lifestyle diseases, sugar addiction, increased number of antidepressants, increase in drug release, vegetables and fruit with only few nutrients... why do we consume so much that it harms ourselves, our nature and our health?
“With our current footprint we need 3.6 globes…”
The Dutch consume so much on average that if everyone on mother earth would live like us - we would need 3.6 globes to meet our needs. You can calculate your consumption. They call it an ecological footprint. There is a good chance that you, like the average Dutch person, are asking too much of the world. This high 'consumption' leads to us (all together) exhausting ourselves and the earth... or more specifically: abusing it!
Addicted to shopping (and eating)
Ali, Shein, McDonalds, Domino's…
By consuming we do not only mean the consumption of food, although we start doing this as a baby and never really stop! Despite this, almost everyone now knows that we over-consume and that this has negative consequences for our planet, health and direct environment, we still continue on autopilot in this comfortable bubble.
It is taught to us and it is not unlearned… We are even stimulated – by advertising – to live even more needy. In addition, there is the aspect of 'peer pressure' which generally makes us do less of what is good for ourselves. We live in a capitalist society in which things, luxury and brands have emotional value. If this does not apply to you, then you are already one step further in a more conscious life!
Capitalism drives the growth of our ecological footprint
As consumers, we are hypnotized to a certain extent by advertising, fast food and (expensive) brands. Consuming these also makes us feel good… It is even addictive! Think of nicotine, alcohol, fast food and caffeine. For decades, the media has been advertising food and luxury products that contain these substances. Billions of euros have been earned from the sale of these products. In addition, there is the aftermath of the problems that addiction brings with it… And the worst thing is, there is money to be made from that too!
You have become emotionally dependent on consuming
We are the victims of our consumer society… The solution is actually simple. Just stop! Do you eat too much and are you overweight? Then stop eating too much. Does food have a bad impact on your health, then eat less! Is alcohol bad for you, then why do you bring it into your home? Are you in bad shape, then exercise more! As simple as it seems, stopping these 'addictions' is difficult… postpone it until the new year, then you will return to the good habits that most people fail to achieve every year!
Why only 8% of people succeed in changing…
Did you know that only 8% of people succeed in forming good habits? This is because the (bad) habits keep us emotionally stable. We continue with them despite the fact that we often suffer physical complaints (even chronic diseases). If we stopped immediately, 90% of humanity would suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
Reduce overconsumption, lower your footprint and save money
When you really start to delve into your own existence and want to break free from conditioning and addictions, you will also start to look differently at what you actually need in your life. If you want to deepen in the short term and start living more in your essence, then inform yourself in one of our retreats. If you prefer to start slowly with integrating a conscious lifestyle, then we have already collected 10 tips for you with which you can have a lot of impact in the short term.
10 practical tips to reduce your footprint (ecological footprint)
1. Intermittent fasting: Not only are there numerous health benefits to intermittent fasting, it is also good for your wallet with today's expensive groceries, plus it lowers your consumption and therefore your footprint. When you skip one meal a day, for example in the morning, your body gets the chance to recover at a cellular level. If you skip 300 breakfasts a year, that makes a significant difference to your consumption and wallet!
2. Replace meat with vegetarianism and veganism where possible: Choosing not to consume animal products has a significant impact on your ecological footprint, as animal farming is more resource intensive than plant-based.
3. Go for local and seasonal food: Eating food that is locally produced and in season helps reduce transportation costs from import/export and energy consumption.
4. Choose organic farming: Organic farming methods minimize the use of harmful chemicals and promote sustainable soil management. Organic products contain higher nutritional values. These products are more expensive, so you will probably be more careful with them. It would be a shame to throw hard-earned euros in the bin, right?
5. Reducing food waste: Food waste has a significant ecological impact due to the resources lost in production, transportation and disposal. It is not just the waste that you throw away. The entire process from production to preparing the meal costs energy. All of that is lost when you waste food.
6. Integrate prana into your life: Prana is a universal life energy that you can use step by step (under supervision!) can integrate into your life. Think of a very nice moment in your life. A moment when you lose track of time and place and it gives you emotional satisfaction. These are the moments when you already live on prana. A source of energy that you can live on for free.
It is even possible to to become completely dependent on prana, but this requires patience and training. In our retreats we teach people to live on prana. I live completely on prana myself. Are you curious how this is possible? Then take a look at one of my documentaries on this website.
7. Packaging material and environmentally friendly packaging: Choosing sustainable packaging can reduce waste and reduce the impact of the food industry on the environment. There are already new rules for the use of plastic nationwide. Did you know that microplastic particles end up in food?
8. Food security and biodiversity: Large-scale agriculture has already proven to disrupt ecosystems and endanger biodiversity. Which has consequences for the ecological balance. It is not without reason that organic food is becoming increasingly popular. Purer food for our society and fewer toxins that end up in our food and also unnecessarily kill bees and butterflies.
9. Urban agriculture and community gardens: Growing local food in cities can reduce your carbon footprint and benefit your community. You probably know someone with an organic vegetable garden.
10. Second hand is often good enough: reduce the purchase of new products. Second-hand products can often still be used for another round. Why would you want everything new? In the Netherlands, sheds, cupboards and attics are overflowing with products that are hardly used. What a waste! Do you also have such an attic... perhaps it is time to get rid of some stuff - but don't throw it away of course!
6 Benefits of Moderation (Consuming Less)
- Reducing the ecological footprint: By moderating our consumption, we reduce our ecological footprint. This means that we use fewer natural resources.
- Reducing air and water pollution: Less consumption means less production and transportation of goods, which in turn reduces air and water pollution. Clean air and water are essential for both human health and the environment.
- Health Benefits: Moderation not only benefits the environment, but also our health. Consuming less can lead to healthier eating habits and less stress, which in turn contributes to better physical and mental health.
- Saving of financial resources: Consuming less means saving money, which can help us stay financially stable and allow us to invest in sustainable solutions and greener lifestyle choices.
- Awareness and responsibility: Moderation encourages awareness of our impact on the environment and encourages us to act more responsibly, leading to positive changes in our choices and behavior.
- Fewer physical complaints through nutrition: The concept of living on prana, but also regular fasting, provides several health benefits, such as a lower risk of certain nutrition-related disorders such as intestinal complaints, it provides less energy dips and reduces the need for sleep.
