Sustainability is a hot buzz word these days. And most of the time, when we use this word, we are speaking of the world around us, outside of us.

What does it even mean? An ability to continue, to maintain? We ask questions such as: can we sustain? Do we have the resources to last? Will we run out? Can we conserve enough and in time? Can we live consciously yet not live in lack?

Most importantly, we need to ask if we apply any of this to ourselves: to our own internal state or internal process. It’s cool to talk about sustainability, be are we living that way ourselves? Or are we going and going, running and running? Are we working long hours, not taking breaks. Are we disconnected from our environment?

I live in a solar powered, off-grid home. We are self-sustaining. We generate our own power through solar panels, batteries to store the power and a backup generator which, yes, the propane company comes and fills.

Off the grid, disconnected, independent… the interesting thing is, it is actually more efficient to store power on the grid. We need the grid, to be maximally efficient; we need to be connected to the grid. The metaphor – when we are too “independent” we are actually less efficient. We need each other. We need to generate our own power and share power with others.

And to switch metaphors, efficiency also means balanced. If we are not living with balance, we are not practicing sustainability. I spend long hours at my computer, often ignoring the aches in my body and sometimes so disconnected that I don’t even know the aches exist until the end of the day.

Looking at balance—consider the major areas of life and ask yourself the following questions:

Career—

• Do you love what you do?

• Are you contributing in a way you find to be meaningful?

Relationships—

• Are you in a nurturing partnership?

• If not, why not?

• Do you want to be?

• What’s getting in your way?

Friendships—

• Do you have close friends?

• Do you spend time with them?

Money—

• What is your relationship with money?

• Do you have debt? Are you paying it off?

• Do you have a budget?

• Do you never seem to have enough?

Physical—

• What is your exercise schedule like? Do you enjoy it?

• How is your energy level?

• What are your food choices?

• Do you have aches and pains?

Leisure—

• How do you nurture yourself?

• What do you enjoy doing? Do you do this regularly?

• Do you vacation?

Home—

• How do you feel about your home?

• Do you take care of it?

• Are there broken things? Piles? Messes?

Spiritual Connection—

• What do you do to nurture your spirituality?

• Do you pray, meditate, belong to a church?

• Do you feel connected to something bigger?

Community—

• Are you a part of your community? What do you do?

• Do you make a difference in the world? How?

Nature—

• What is your connection like with nature?

• What do you do to cultivate this?

Often we have areas of our lives that we give a lot of attention and these areas work well. Then we have some that are out of balance. To be truly sustainable, we need to come to balance in all areas. This doesn’t mean being perfect. It does mean that we are paying attention, we are aware. We don’t live in denial. We don’t sweep major issues under the carpet. We know that to truly live a sustainable life, we need to be balanced in mind, body and spirit.

Sustainability should be considered the baseline for our lives. If we really want to live, we need to thrive, not simply survive.

Wherever you stand in the “we need to save the planet” view point. In the long run, if we aren’t living sustainably ourselves, we may save the planet, but lose the human race.