Mindset

2/ Roots of renewal

Personality

Spiritual

A modest spiritual way of living is centred around a commitment to honesty and simplicity, a return to what is essential. This simplicity is not a rejection of progress, but a conscious decision to focus on what truly matters. In a space of quiet, deliberate living, people find a deeper connection to the world around them. It is a way of life that invites you to slow down, reflect, and prioritize what sustains us, individually and collectively. The power of care and nurturing is central, it makes the world more gentle, compassionate, and resilient. Caring, whether it is for the land, for one another, or for the future, are the roots of a healthy society.

Being grounded is about being connected to the moment, in tune with the rhythm of nature and the people who make up your circle. A way of life where people are aware of the world around them, the energy, and the natural flow of life. It is not being distracted by the noise of the world but in tune with what matters most. It may be too late to change the system but it is not too late to change ourselves.

There’s a shift toward spirituality, personal boundaries, and healing, where people are becoming more aware of their emotional and psychological states. As they articulate and process these emotions, there is a deepening understanding of the importance of personal and collective well-being, not only questioning traditions but also embracing more holistic, interconnected ways of living and communicating .

Spirituality is about movement in harmony with the natural world. Aligning oneself with the cycles of the Earth, the changing of seasons, the moon and the rising and setting of the sun. These rhythms offer a guide, it means adjusting to the ebb and flow of nature, finding balance between activity and rest, between planting and harvesting, and embracing the lessons each phase offers.

Grounded

Honesty

Spiritual

Boundaries

El Retiro by Jag Studio

Photo by Nuria Val

Rebirth by Samah Shihadi

Song of the Origins, mycelium alcove by Côme Di Meglio

Learning

Connection & care

The nature of work is changing as people are reassessing the way work is valued and the role it plays in our lives. It is no longer just about economic growth or productivity, work is increasingly seen as a route to create collective impact. The success lies in fostering togetherness to address environmental issues.

In a world where environmental boundaries are becoming clearer, work is moving away from individual gain towards the collective health and well-being of communities and the environment. It is a form of protection, for ecosystems, but also to protect disappearing knowledge, crafts, and skills that once connected humans to their environment.

Community-based initiatives such as community gardens or workspaces sharing resources. Real change often starts from the ground up, where people join together to meet shared needs and through this create sustainable solutions. Through grassroots campaigns, communities are fighting to ensure that progress is made not only for today, but for future generations.

While the concept of ‘green jobs’ has been met with resistance, people are more drawn to the idea of protecting the planet for future generations. This disconnect highlights a deeper challenge, people understand the urgency of climate action, but wanting to see real change, not abstract economic incentives.

The wisdom of respecting the Earth, understanding the way that local solutions are integrated into the broader system is important. The micro is the macro, a way to connect on a human scale and foster shared values and create resilience.

Togetherness

Impact

Resilience

Small

Regenerative restaurant Maruta (Green Wise) Japan

Perennial Practices by Ida Stubbe Teglbjaerg

Our Labyrinth by Lee Mingwei

Ikimono Architects office, photo by Marc Goodwin

Active

Endurance

Whether it is through physical activity, engaging with nature, or simply being present through daily activities, movement creates mental clarity and emotional resilience. It is a way of staying grounded while allowing the mind to adapt, process, and refresh itself. Movement does not just happen to the body; it is also a form of mental motion.

Nature plays an essential role as a place for contemplation and growth. Walking through forests, breathing in the morning air, being immersed in nature can bring a sense of peace and perspective. The act of breathing deeply brings a sense of balance.

The physicality of nature, from the wind against the skin to the feeling of the ground under your feet, reinforces the connection between the body and mind. Not conquering nature, but being part of a larger system where humans are small.

Cold water serves as a powerful tool in this connection and resetting body and mind. Immersion in cold water is not just about physical endurance, but also about mental strength, learning to breathe through discomfort, to accept and move with the challenge rather than resist it.

True growth often comes from embracing discomfort, stepping beyond the familiar into the unknown. This is when we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Movement, whether physical, intellectual, or emotional, pushes us to adapt, question, and evolve. Growth is not about staying still, it is about learning, adjusting, and moving forward with intention.

Mental motion

Immersion

Physical resilience

Intentional

Photo for Ellis Brigham by Johny Cook

Photo by Summit Climbing Guides

The Garden by Siân Davey

Photo by Tribe & Trail

Essential gear needed to survive 7 days at Life in a Pack

The Garden by Siân Davey

Spending

Under-spending

Embracing a no-debt mindset creates a deep tension, as many view the loss of consumer freedoms as a direct erosion of their personal autonomy. This resistance to change is rooted in the difficulty of letting go of comforts and identities shaped by consumption which are perceived as loss .

The cost of living crisis makes frugality a necessity for many. Making an aesthetic of thriftiness, buying less and buying secondhand are acts of resistance.

A non-consumer lifestyle centres around prioritizing values, relationships and experiences over the accumulation of goods. As businesses struggle to maintain margins with rising raw material costs, wages and transportation the reduction in quality is noticeable. Many products are of poorer quality, using cheaper materials to keep prices affordable, as consumers are unwilling to pay higher costs.

Living as a non-consumer often involves cultivating a deeper connection to the natural world, focusing on self-sufficiency, and shifting away from the status symbols associated with material wealth. It also invites a rejection of the “more is better” mindset, emphasizing instead that fulfillment comes from non-material sources, such as personal growth, connection, and creativity.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of natural capital (resources such as forests, water, and biodiversity) and the economic processes that depend on them. Rather than assuming that growth can be endless, ecological economics advocates for rethinking prosperity through human well-being and ecological integrity, rather than GDP growth alone.