Everyone thinks that the No Impact regime causes some sort of deprivation, but the fact is that I was more deprived before than I am now. Here’s why: happiness is simply not based on how much stuff you have. It’s based on how you live. Science shows it.
Happiness, the research confirms, is derived from strong relationships, using your core talents, living a life according to your values, and connecting to something larger than yourself so you have a sense of meaning. Unplugging from the consumption matrix has helped me to do all those things: no TV means more time with family, trying not to hurt the planet connects me to something larger and makes me feel like I’m living in accord with my values, and I get to use my core talent which is communication.
It turns out, you see, that once I had the courage to challenge my consumption addiction, living a life that is better for the planet turns out to be better for me, too. That’s great news. To convince people to use fewer resources all we have to do is show how doing so can make them happier. And here’s a BBC video about the science that confirms it.