Cultivating a Sustainability Mindset: The Crucial Role of Long-Term Thinking
Learnings and reflections for changemakers inspired by the book “The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long-Term in a Short-Term World” by Roman Krznaric
We live in a world obsessed with short-term thinking. When you look at the business world, we prioritize immediate gains over long-term sustainability. Quarterly earnings and creating shareholder value are the focus, whereas longevity of a business has become unfashionable. And our personal lives are not immune either. Short-term gratification wins more often than not over long-term planning and resourcing. Hustling through the day, glad to have made it through that busy work day, feeling too tired to think about anything longer term than the weekend.
But what if we could shift our focus to think and act long-term, more like "good ancestors”? Roman Krznaric explores this concept in his insightful book, "The Good Ancestor: How to think long-term in a short-term world."
As a Positive Psychologist specialising in people development with a climate-focus, I found Krznaric's book to be a treasure trove of wisdom, offering practical strategies for navigating the complexities of our rapidly changing world, while cultivating a long-term view that not only helps us in the here and now, but also brings meaning, purpose and wellbeing to our generation and the generations to come.
Here are some of my personal key takeaways and how they can be applied to break through the hussle and instead create a life and career in service of Earth. And it promises to be a most joyful and intellectually stimulating endeavour! So let’s dive in.
Legacy is what you do in the moment, the actions you do today, which plant the seeds for a positive future.
- Roman Krznaric, author and philosopher
1. Embracing Long-term Thinking with a Legacy Mindset: Krznaric emphasizes the importance of looking beyond immediate gratification and considering the impact of our actions on future generations. He invites us to foster a legacy mindset, but not the one where you picture yourself in glory and hail or being able to leave a monetary inheritance to your children. Legacy is what you do in the moment, the actions you do today, which plant the seeds for a positive future where generations that come after us will thrive and be well. He observes correctly that reflecting on one’s legacy is complicated in a Westernised world that has a complete disconnect with death and our own mortality. Yet, death and dying are part of life. Reflecting on what legacy means to you can therefore be a confronting exercise, but certainly one that’s worth exploring as it connects deeply with questions about meaning in life and one’s purpose.
2. Cultivating Deep Time Awareness through Time Humility: In a world where instant results often reign supreme, Krznaric urges us to develop a deeper understanding of time – not just in terms of years or decades, centuries or millennia, but in terms of the lifetime of Earth. Deep time awareness is a wonderful tool to bring calmness and grounding into your day. When you understand the vastness of time that has passed before life on Earth developed in its current form, you understand that humankind’s existence on this planet is merely a blink of an eye. On a personal level, I find solace in deep time awareness, as it reminds me that whatever happens in the greater scheme of things, me rushing through life is pointless. It’s a humbling realisation. Positively humbling. A great way to make deep time experiential is going for a Deep Time Walk. This wonderful app invites you to listen to the story of Earth, while you walk for 4.6 km, the equivalent of 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history, and experience the happenings on this planet in a fascinating experiential way.
3. Practicing Radical Empathy & Intergenerational Justice: One of the most powerful concepts in "The Good Ancestor" is the idea of extending our empathy beyond the boundaries of our own lives to encompass future generations as well as all forms of life on Earth - the more-than-human world. He asks us to give voice to the future ones when we make important decisions as organisations, communities, states and the world as a whole. Consider how you can bring this view into the work you do today. Think about the resources that are needed for your company to operate. How can processes, product design, supply chains and services be optimised with a view to protect future generations’ resources and wellbeing? This might sound abstract, but we are starting to develop concrete ideas on how every job can be viewed through this lens. Project Drawdown has recently published insightful job function guides that offer a great starting point in this exploration.
Consider how you can incorporate this sense of radical empathy into your career path, whether it's through advocating for environmental justice or designing sustainable solutions with future generations in mind.
4. Cathedral Thinking and the Seven-Generations Principle: Building on intergenerational justice Krznaric introduces the concept of "cathedral thinking," drawing inspiration from the builders of medieval cathedrals who embarked on projects that would far outlive their own lifetimes. Similarly, in your sustainability journey, embrace the ethos of cathedral thinking by envisioning projects and initiatives that transcend immediate gratification, striving to leave a lasting legacy that enriches the lives of future generations. Furthermore, adopt the Seven Generations Principle, a concept well lived through storytelling of indigenous people across the world. The 7 Generation Principle which urges us to consider the impact of our actions on the well-being of people seven generations into the future, a time frame of approximately 150 years. By incorporating this principle into your decision-making process, you practice a deep sense of responsibility and stewardship for the Earth and all its inhabitants.
Image by Daphne Fecheyr using Midjourney
Reflective Questions:
How does my current career path align with the principles of long-term thinking and radical empathy?
What steps can I take to incorporate deep time awareness into my decision-making process when it comes to my career?
In what ways can I leverage my skills and passions to contribute to positive change in the face of climate challenges?
What concrete steps can I take to leverage cathedral thinking and the seven-generations principle in shaping a climate-focused career that leaves a positive legacy?
Get more thought-provoking journaling prompts and download my free journaling workbook:
10 Reflective Questions to Become a Good Ancestor - Download your free PDF:
By pondering these questions and incorporating the insights from "The Good Ancestor" into your career exploration journey, you can not only find a path that brings you fulfilment and purpose but also contribute to building a brighter future for generations to come.
Remember, the choices we make today ripple through time, shaping the world that our descendants will inherit. Let's strive to be the good ancestors that future generations will thank us for.
With optimism and determination,
Claudia
