Ecological intelligence, a commitment to nature

One of the biggest problems in our society is the tremendous environmental impact that we produce as a species. Our current lifestyle makes us depleting the planet’s resources by leaps and bounds. The effects are beginning to be seen only as a harbinger of what is possibly to come. But what can we do to avoid it? One of the answers to this question is to improve our ecological intelligence.

The traditional concept of intelligence has evolved. Nowadays it is much richer and covers many more fronts. So, for example, today no one is surprised to hear terms like emotional and social intelligence. But one of the latest variants of this concept could be the key to reducing our impact on the environment.

In this article we will see exactly what ecological intelligence is and how it can mediate the impact we have on our environment. Besides, We will study several keys to start improving this ability through daily work.

What is ecological intelligence?

In 2009, Daniel Goleman (author of such well-known works as “Emotional Intelligence”) proposed a new concept that has since gained great importance in certain circles of psychology. We are talking about ecological intelligence; According to this author, it would be the ability to understand the impact our actions have on the environment.

Thus, a person with low ecological intelligence would have a very poor vision of the repercussions of their actions on their environment as well as little ability to vary their behavior based on them. This would lead you, for example, to not recycle or to use too much water.

Read Also: 366 uncomfortable questions for friends and partners: do you dare?

Therefore, the author proposes start thinking more carefully about the impact of our actions. According to him, every small gesture counts. Thus, actions such as buying ecological products or clothing made with recycled materials can help reduce our “ecological footprint”; This would make our existence more compatible with the long-term survival of the planet.

“It is not enough to recycle. Not even buying biological nutriment. Not even changing the light bulbs or disconnecting the plugs… These steps are necessary but insufficient, because what really needs to change is our way of thinking. All our actions have an impact on the environment: denying it is ignorant.”

-Daniel Goleman-

How to develop ecological intelligence

According to Goleman, our ability to understand the impact we have on the world is atrophied. Because we are immersed in a consumerist culture that acts as a curtain, we are unable to see how our actions affect nature. This did not happen in past centuries, when people lived and worked in the fields. In these times, no one forgot that their survival depended on nature.

The problem of having low ecological intelligence is twofold. On one side, the negative effects we produce on the planet skyrocket. But, in addition, our own mental health suffers from the artificial world in which we operate. According to various studies, the more disconnected we are from the natural world, the more problems such as anxiety or depression we will tend to suffer.

Therefore, if you want to live a happy and sustainable life, you need to make a conscious effort to improve your ecological intelligence. But how to achieve it?

Read Also: How to learn to be alone after a breakup

The solution: become more aware

The first action you can take to improve your ecological intelligence is to gather as much information as you can about your effect on the world. For different reasons, Most of us are not aware of the environmental impact of our lifestyle.. We do not understand what it costs to produce the food we eat, the clothes we buy, maintain our houses or cars…

Therefore, to develop this capacity, the first thing is to become more aware of what you do. Try to realize the small decisions you make in your daily life and how they affect the world and society. Are you going to work by car or by subway? Do you buy organic food, or do you get it from a traditional supermarket?

Simply by informing yourself about how our modern habits influence nature and reflecting on your own, It will make you begin to develop your ecological intelligence almost without realizing it.

Of course, the next step is a little more difficult. Unless your habits are already excellent, You will need to start changing them for more sustainable ones.. This can be a job that lasts years and forces you to reinvent yourself almost completely. However, the reward is unmatched: you will be able to leave a better world for your children to enjoy.