you can’t save the rain forest if you’re

depressed

you are not responsible for saving the world if you are struggling to save yourself. If you must use paper plates for meals or throw away recycling in order to gain better functioning, you should do so. When you are functioning again, you will gain the capacity to do real good

for the world. In the meantime, your job is to survive.

Realistically, when you are struggling to function you are not choosing between recycling and not recycling; you are choosing between letting the cardboard pile up and staying paralyzed and

throwing the cardboard out and being able to get unstuck enough to move forward. Either way the recycling isn’t getting done that day.

However, if you sacrifice a few weeks of cardboard (or Tupperware, or paper, or plastics), you may well have a chance at gaining a

functioning human being capable of engaging in and making a difference in important causes like environmentalism.

Feeling shame for not being sustainable, for eating meat, or for

purchasing fast fashion when you are fighting to get through the day is not going to cause you to magically gain the ability to do something different. Shame is a horrible long-term motivator. It is more likely to

contribute to dysfunction and continued cycles of unsustainable practices.

nobody is doing all the good things all the time

When I think of all the good things I could be doing—whether it’s

environmentalism, activism, or other altruistic acts—I try to categorize them into two tiers. The first tier lists the standards I expect myself to be accountable to at all times and in all areas of my life. This is also

the tier I welcome anyone to hold me accountable for. For me, this tier includes ensuring my behavior is not racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, transphobic, or ableist, that I always refrain from

abusing or exploiting others, and that I always act with honesty and integrity.

The second tier includes morally good things that aren’t absolutes but that I participate in when possible: supporting small businesses, donating money, volunteering my time, recycling, avoiding fast fashion, reducing waste, prioritizing businesses with ethical

practices. I am only accountable to myself and my inner circle for how I organize this tier.

No person can do all the good things all the time and expecting yourself to just sets up an oppressive perfectionism to which no one can live up. Imperfection is required for a good life.