Are YOU A Climate Optimist?
The 6 Steps to Empowered Leadership
When I first started calling myself a Climate Optimist, I often got the question:
“But how can you be optimistic about climate change?”
My answer was always: “How can I not?”
What I meant by that is that there are numerous psychological and neuroscientific reasons why optimism is essential for our ability to set big goals and achieve remarkable things.
And it narrows down to the simple question:
“If we don’t think it’s possible, why would we try?”
Yes, optimism is needed for action, but there’s so much more to it than just that. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that to be a Climate Optimist, you have to understand and implement the variety of principles of becoming one.
In today’s post, I’ll break down the 6 most important steps for climate optimism and invite you to reflect on your strengths (and places for improvement) in all of these areas.
And I hope you do!
Because altough being a climate optimist is to activate empowered leadership and unlock possibilities for even better worlds, its work is not just about ‘the greater good’ — the climate optimism lifestyle comes with a beautiful existence lived in purpose, joy, happiness, and health.
In other words, a life truly worth living.
So what does it take to be one? Let’s explore…
The 6 Steps to Empowered (Climate Optimist) Leadership
Are you a Climate Optimist? Go through the six steps below and see how well they apply to you. Is there any area you wish to strengthen?
Purpose
I’m guided by a sense of purpose and seek joy in the things I do. I feel like my life has a meaning and continue to add that meaning wherever I can.
Emotional Inventory
I routinely tune in with myself and honor my range of emotions. I have the tools to deal with difficult information and am also not afraid to reach out to others for support.
Solutions Oriented
When tasked with a problem, I like to seek out possible solutions and understand that my attitude and effort will greatly affect the outcome of success.
Willingness to Question
I approach life and this (climate) mission with an open and curious mindset and understand that the world will only change if we are willing to change. I embrace being wrong and strive to find new, even better ways.
Slow
I recognize that a sped-up world has created many of the issues we’re facing today and that a state of “slow” is necessary to step out of repetitive mental loops, stress, and harmful biases.
I also recognize that it’s in slowness, introspection, and self-care that I give myself the ability to bring my best, most optimist, and action-driven self to the task.
Leadership
I know what my unique skills are and feel happy and confident applying them to the work that matters most. I also know that by activating my own leadership and showing up fully in my agency, I invite others to step into theirs.
Because:
“Great leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”
— Tom Peters
But there’s one more step…
Understanding the principles of climate optimism is one thing, implementing them and making them a part of your being and every day routines is another. However, passing them on in the form of empowered leadership is where the true magic happens.
Arthur Brooks, Harvard’s famous happiness professor, argues that to truly be happy, one must:
Understand the principles of happiness
Apply them to your life
Share them with others
If you don’t do all three, you will forget, and the art of true happiness is lost. The same goes for climate optimism.
I also like to draw inspiration from the AA movement that took the world by storm and continues to pull millions of people out of addiction to this day. The 10-step proven system doesn’t work because of the theories thereof, but because of the intrinsic network of trust, commitment, and respect for one another that is woven into its culture.
Without that, people might have the tools, but the transformational change that needs to occur over time would be lost.
DO YOU WANT TO STRENGTHEN YOUR POSITION IN ALL 6?
If you feel like the principles of climate optimism can greatly benefit your life, career, and climate mission, I’m inviting you to enroll in The Climate Optimist Course.
In 5 sessions, we will cover how to overcome mental barriers to change, build emotional resilience in the face of the climate crisis, create and nurture (radical) optimism, and turn climate change distress on its head.
You will also learn what empowered and optimistic leadership looks like and how to apply these principles to your most important work (whatever your field.)
BUT HURRY UP!
If you enroll before the end of September, you the full course for only $149! This is almost 50% off!
You won’t get the same deal later on, so make sure you don’t miss out on this one-time unique offer!
Do you have questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask them! Send me a message or post them in the comments below!
Workshop during Climate Week
If you’re interested in exploring the 6 steps in detail, I will be hosting a workshop at Hope House during ClimateWeek NYC. There are a few spots left — hurry over to sign up!
Agree with the other commenter that "Slow" is super important. I also think it's the kind of value that can impact everything else we do. The "fast" stress loops we're getting caught in is part of what keeps us from transitioning our lives. Slow fashion, slow food, it all requires that inner transformation.
Nice breakdown, I especially like the slow point. Thanks!