Have you noticed how recently everywhere organizations, politicians and the media are talking about Carbon footprints?
Suddenly everyone has become aware of the chain effect that each of our consumption has on the planet. I guess it’s good that we are becoming responsible about our impact on the planet. But there is something so much more important to focus on…
It’s the fact that it’s not just what you consume that affects the world. By a far greater factor your state of being, the mood that you are in, whether you smile or snarl at another has a far greater impact.
Once you understand the idea that the butterfly’s wings creates an chain reaction across the globe you can relate that idea to your own mood. Let’s translate this idea to your life.
Say you wake up grumpy and scowl at your Spouse as you get up. “Where’s my shirt?” you bark. As your kids come rushing in excited you shout at them to watch the vase. Then you drive off to work cutting in to the traffic and beeping away to every other ‘idiot’ on the road.
The idea is that your emotional state determines your perceptions, which affects your decisions, which determines the perspective, the posture and the actions you take. This then affects others emotional state creating either a positive chain of events or a vicious circle.
Ideally everyone would have a level of happiness that is resistant to the bows and arrows of fate. But the reality is that our evolution is such that our mood and emotional state is fragile. Just one snarl, imagined slight or perceived snub can dominate a person’s entire day.
Imagine waking up one day to a bright, sunny day. Feeling as though the Gods have been ahead of you sweeping the path before you tread. Everyone seems to radiate love and appreciation for the wonder that you are.
Then picture another day, where the clouds seem to hover over only you. Where the Gods seem to be using you for target practice for every conceivable form of unpleasantry. Feel the pain and hostility you feel when you receive only rejection, ridicule and resentment.
Now would your actions and feelings be different?
Of course. Now take it a step deeper. Would the people with whom you interact gain a different energy, a different emotional response to their meeting with you?
Of course. And as Jimmy Stewart found in the famous film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, our actions have a power that far exceeds our knowledge.
This is the point I’m trying to make. The issue of your Carbon Footprint is minuscule in comparison to your Emotional Footprint.
