E198: Environmental Habits & How to Incorporate Them, Part Six of The Science & The Spiritual Series

We continue with our Science & Spiritual series with part six of seven: Environmental Wellness. Learn how to create, implement, and elevate environmental habits using scientific methods and spiritual tools…

[00:28] Welcome back to the Science & the Spiritual Series here on the Women’s Empowerment Podcast. This is part six of seven, and I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been really loving producing these episodes!

I’ll be honest, the podcast is a bit of a labour of love for me. I find so much joy from creating this show, and I also feel torn on what it will look like in the future. I am currently brainstorming and working on ways to keep this show alive with the support of sponsorships and although I don’t yet know what that looks like, I did want to mention that there will be upcoming changes to the podcast. I always want to be honest and transparent with you. That being said, in terms of support and sponsorship, I will only be sharing products, services, and brands that I align with and/or use personally.

On that note, if you or someone you know has a product or service that they would like to promote in exchange for sponsorship of the podcast, I would love to learn more! Please direct them to my website www.valerielavignelife.com/contact where they can connect with me.

Okay, let’s get back to the series shall we?!

If this is the first time you’re listening to the podcast or the series, big welcome to you! It is a pleasure to have you here.

In this series we are discussing habits that fall under the seven dimensions of wellness. These dimensions are: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, and occupational.

Each episode focuses on one of the seven dimensions. Within each episode I have chosen three habits to elaborate on and use as examples for building out this area of wellness. Also, each of the episodes talks about different tools that are either scientific or spiritual in nature.

I’ve divided the series up into seven parts for a few reasons:

The listener request for this episode was from Ceri, who asked for “types of habits and how to incorporate them” and of course there are endless habit examples we can discuss, so I thought it would be best to break them down through the seven areas of wellness.
When it comes to habit formation, there is A LOT more involved in it than what we might think. So when I describe the science part of the episode, I’ve actually explained completely different areas of neuroscience and beahvioural sciences. This means each episode is entirely different!
The scientific methods shared in each episode of the series are not specific to only the topic or title. They’re actually all transferable, which is why I recommend listening to all seven episodes because there is something new to learn and use when implementing your wellness habits (the final one is coming soon!)
And lastly, all of this information in one episode would be way too long, and when it’s too long, it gets boring so I’ve made it a series to keep you engaged in learning and taking action!

[03:38] Today’s specific topic is all about environmental wellness.

When it comes to environmental wellness, I see it in two ways: the first is the environmental awareness of the planet Earth, and the second is the physical environment that we are in such as our physical home and our space.

The reasons why I see it in these two ways, for starters, is that global change begins in the home, and truly with ourselves. Like many of the topics of this podcast, we discuss self improvement and the ripple effect this transformation has on the world around us. In the last episode of this series, we learned that our personality becomes our personal reality. Meaning how we think, feel, and act has a direct effect and relationship on the world around us.

Secondly, and in all honesty, I don’t believe the world is going to be completely healed of the damage it has encountered in my lifetime BUT I do believe in doing my best to leave a positive and helpful mark on the world in my lifetime. Will reducing, reusing, and recycling reduce my personal carbon footprint? Sure. Is recycling going to solve global problems, no.

And lastly, our living and even working environment is very important. As much as we impact our living space, our living space impacts us. I can tell you this first hand because I have lived with a parent with addiction and mental disease and it was and is extremely challenging and heartbreaking to be in that space.

On a more simple scale, you have probably experienced heaviness, languish, or feeling unmotivated in a messy room. I know that I work much better when my office space/environment is tidy and open. I’ll talk more about this in the science part of the episode soon.

As always, and with everything, we aim to do our best. So for today’s episode I will do my best in speaking to two different types of environmental habits and how to incorporate them using scientific methods and spiritual tools.

Let’s take a look at our habit examples for today:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Creating and maintaining sacred space

Normally I choose three examples to work with when it comes to our habit examples, but since the first one is sort of three in one, and since we’re talking about two types of environmental wellness, then I thought two examples would be perfectly appropriate.

If you’re interested in, or currently working on improving your environmental wellness, screenshot this episode and share it with me on instagram @vallavignelife! I’d love to hear more about what specific habits you’re working on and how it’s going for you.

[06:32] The Science: The Three Brains

For this series I’ve really been focusing on the neuro and behavioural sciences of creating habits. I understand that Environmental Science is a HUGE topic on its own and that is amazing, but I don’t want to get too caught up in that for the purpose of this podcast. So for today, I’d like to introduce you to “The Three Brains.”

If you’ve been listening to the series, you’ll know I’m a big fan of Dr. Joe Dispenza. He talks a lot about our three brains. The first brain is our neocortex. This is the big walnut shape you see representing the brain and its folds and valleys, it’s the biological brain. This first brain allows us to see and observe our external environment and learn new things. “Learning is forging new circuits, remembering is maintaining or sustaining those connections.”

When you begin to change your actions, or do something differently you’re changing your experience. (Re-listen to part five of the series for more on behavioural and personality changes for habit forming).

While having this experience you are connecting to your senses of sight, smell, taste, feeling, and sound. This is all information that comes rushing back into the brain through the five pathways of the senses. The information begins to organize into patterns, the neurons then fire and “the brain makes a chemical that’s the second brain called the limbic brain or the emotional brain. And that chemical is called a feeling or an emotion.”

This chemical process of the limbic brain is teaching your body to emotionally understand what your mind is understanding intellectually in that very moment. The key is to repeat it over and over again because it’s not enough to do it just once.

Dr. Dispenza says, “And when you repeat any experience at will and make it look natural and easy, you activate that third brain called the cerebellum. It becomes subconscious; it becomes unconscious. We practiced it so many times that we no longer have to think about it. It’s a skill. It’s a habit. It’s innate in us. It’s who we are. And we get to this level where we neurochemically conditioned the body to memorize it as well as the conscious mind.”

Example One: The Science

[09:26] So let’s use this science and the three brains to understand how we can implement the environmental habits we chose for today.

Reducing, reusing, and recycling is our first habit. These are practices that reduce our consumption and waste, reuse materials that we already have, and recycle waste when appropriate.

Neocortex: This is what allows us to see and observe the world around us. When it comes to your current reducing, reusing, and recycling habits, what do you notice?

In our house we practice recycling papers, glass and cans with the blue bin, as well as food or organic waste with our green bin. We also shop with our own grocery and produce bags to reduce the amount of plastic we use.

I often talk about my favourite reusable water bottle, which is connected to an app that has shared with me that I’ve saved over 1000 water bottles just from drinking from this one bottle.

Limbic: When you bring awareness to your current reducing, reusing and recycling habits, how does it make you feel? Consider the more positive habits you have. If you aren’t practicing any helpful or healthful habits, feel into the feelings you would like to have if you were practicing these helpful habits.

I keep all the grocery and produce bags all in one place and I’ve gotten into the habit of bringing them to the grocery store with us each time we make the trip. I feel proud of this habit and I also like the look and feel of these produce bags. Very natural and farmer’s market aesthetic. It might sound silly, but that’s how my “second brain” experiences this.

Believe it or not, I actually take the garbage and recycling out each week. I feel organized and helpful when the proper items are in the proper bins. I also get satisfaction out of breaking down cardboard boxes and neatly packing them into the blue bin.

My water bottle lights up when I need to drink, or when I reach my daily water goal. It also has options for me to join challenges with other people who have this water bottle and receive badges for drinking water and reducing plastic water bottle waste.

Cerebellum: All of your current habits with reducing, reusing and recycling are already activating your cerebellum, both good and bad habits. How can you naturally elevate your existing positive habits, or swap your current bad habits with this area of health?

There are some weeks that we waste more food than I’d like. It’s for different reasons, but the main one is poor planning for the week. I used to go to the grocery store the same day every week out of habit, and now I only go if/when we need food and I always go with a list/plan. I’ve swapped my go straight to the grocery store habit with let’s see what we have in the house and fridge before making our list and heading out.

Example One: The Spiritual

[12:49] In each of our series episodes, I share crystals and essential oils to help support the area of wellness that we’re focusing on.

In my research I learned that crystals or gemstones aren’t the most environmentally friendly products. I’ll share a blog post I found titled 6 Things to Know Before You Buy a Healing Crystal.

I’ve mentioned before in this series that I do not consider myself a crystal expert. I do have some crystals and admire them for their colours, shapes, and “powers.” But all of my findings for this section of the series has been from research I’ve done and sourced in the episodes. While I won’t say that “I’ll never buy another crystal” I am definitely a more conscious consumer of them.

In regards to essential oils, I only ever buy from one brand and it’s dōTERRA. I appreciate their quality and transparency and their effort and continued growth in supporting the environment and sustainable co-impact sourcing. I’ll link to their sourcing model in the show notes as well.

While essential oils are typically used to support physical, emotional, and mental wellness, I chose a few I think would create that ripple effect of supporting ourselves to then better support our Earth.

Myrrh the oil for Mother Earth:

This oil nurtures the soul’s relationship with its maternal mother and with the Earth. It helps us feel safe and secure.

Douglas Fir the oil of Generational Wisdom:

This essential oil comes from an old and wise tree. It assists people to break free from destructive traditions passed down through families and helps live according to their own conscience and values by letting go of harmful patterns.

Depending on your current environment in your living space, douglas fir oil might also be helpful in the second example for this area of wellness.

Example Two: The Science

[15:10] Our second example of an environmental habit is creating and maintaining sacred space. By this I’m referring to your physical environment that you’re in. Whether that is your home, your work/office space, your car, inside your purse, etc. Whether you live alone or with others, I encourage everyone to have some sort of sacred space that they can go to for retreat. Even if you just need somewhere to take mindful breaths alone.

Let’s take a look at this example using our three brains.

Neocortex: This is what allows us to see and observe the environment or space around us. When it comes to your current environment, what do you notice? Perhaps you’re at the gym right now, or maybe driving. What do you see in your space?

I’m currently in my office, which I do feel is my sacred space most of the time. It is a shared space but I primarily use this space. My goal is to keep the desk space neat and tidy - truthfully there are a few items on the desk that I don’t need or use right now, but now that I’m aware of that, I will move them.

Is the gym a place you feel safe? What about your car? Do you feel this space is kept clean? Treated with respect? Bring your awareness to it.

Limbic: When you bring awareness to your current environment how does it make you feel? Consider the more positive habits you have. If you aren’t practicing any helpful or healthful habits, feel into the feelings you would like to have if you were practicing these helpful habits.

One of my habits is to clean up my office and desk space after I’m done working. It’s definitely a habit that I’m working on, but when I do it, I feel so much better the next day coming to a space that is ready for me and organized.

Cerebellum: All of your current habits with your environment are already activating your cerebellum, both good and bad habits. How can you naturally elevate your existing positive habits, or swap your current bad habits with this area of health?

One of the things I am working on is balance and with balance I know that at the root of that is really better boundaries. I noticed this a lot when many people started working from home, there was an undertone of expectation to be working after “work hours” because everyone knew you were working from home anyways.

With my coaching business, I’ve always “worked from home” and I’ve had to develop boundaries in my business. Lately these boundaries feel a bit nonexistent due to the lack of balance I’ve been experiencing. Creating a clear plan for the day and sticking to that plan is how I will start adjusting this habit. The plan is made out at the end of a workday, and reviewed the next morning.

Example Two: The Spiritual

[18:30] Here are some crystals and essential oils I’ve found to help support your workspace and home environments:

Desk – Shungite: this crystal has been recommended to help balance technology and nature. (source)

Peppermint, the oil of a Buoyant Heart: this oil brings joy and buoyancy to the heart and soul. It invigorates body, mind, and spirit and reminds us that life can be happy.

Home – Hematite: a crystal for keeping your home free from toxicity. (source)

Tea Tree, the oil of Energetic Boundaries: disinfectant by nature, tea tree aka Melaleuca, clears negative energetic baggage. It encourages us to connect to people and beings in ways that honour and respect others. Also you can use it to clean surfaces in your home.

Car – Howlite: a fantastic stone for preventing nausea and reducing effects of motion sickness. It helps settle nerves and soothes discomfort. It also helps prevent road rage. (source)

Lemongrass the oil of Cleansing: a powerful cleanser of energy and dispels feelings of despondency, despair, and lethargy. It teaches us to move forward without hesitation and lets go of old, limiting beliefs, toxic energies and negativity.

If you’re looking for more support with your environmental wellness, I would like to invite you to click here to see if the 1:1 Make a Habit Mentorship Program is right for you. In this private 3-month container, and customized experience we work on your specific goals and habits so that you can build your desired habits, routines and rituals.

I hope this episode was helpful to creating new environmental habits! If you’re working on your environmental wellness, screenshot this episode and tag me on Instagram @vallavignelife so that I can see what you’re working on and cheer you on.

We’re taking a slight break from our series, but will finish with our final episode of the series during the first week of October! See you next week for a special episode feature with an excellent book I know you’re going to LOVE!

Podcast Host

Valerie LaVigne

Valerie is the creator and founder of Valerie LaVigne Life and the Women's Empowerment Show. She helps busy and empowered women create healthy habits so that they can become the best version of themselves and transform their lives. Learn more about Valerie here!