Make vegan choices, let others live.

Can you remember that time you first saw a video of a non-human animal being abused? What did you hear? What did you see? 

How did it make you feel?

If the footage touched you deeply, you probably wanted to act upon these feelings. You felt desperate to help stop this exploitation and to tell the world what you just witnessed. 

That’s why vegans are so loud. 

Perhaps making the change to go completely plant-based is too much for you at the moment. The pressure is too heavy and you are just not ready to take that step towards living a vegan lifestyle yet.

Listen, it took me 11 months to transition. I get it. It takes time for some of us. That’s fine.

But that doesn’t need to be the reason why you cannot do something. It is because of the small ways we decide to improve that big changes eventually happen. That’s how life works.

This is why you must start making vegan choices and let others live, one day at a time. Here is how to do it:

• Eat more plants and start reducing animal products on your plate.

Start adding vegetables, mushrooms and fruits to your diet. At the same time, only opt for one animal product at a time. 

If you usually consume steak with eggs, just go for one of them and have potatoes or mushrooms on the side. Do that with every meal and you will soon see how easy it is to eat fewer animal products.

• Talk to people who are on the same path as you are.

One way to stay motivated and inspired is to surround yourself with individuals who are aiming for similar things as you are.

Attend picnics, events, talks, or connect online with vegans, vegetarians or those who are simply reducing at this point.

Even better if they are just at the beginning as you can both hold each other accountable and push together for progress.

• Learn about what happens in slaughterhouses and on dairy farms.

If you are lacking the motivation to make more vegan choices, you only need to look at slaughterhouse footage. Or watch abuse other animals endure on egg farms, in circuses and aquariums, or at the zoo.

Honestly, there is no shortage of evidence for how violent we are to those who are of different species. Find it, watch it and then turn whatever you are feeling into a passion for making personal progress (here are my resources).

Trust me, your conscience will make sure you do something.

• Have a vision for where you want to go.

I don’t think going vegan is a goal one should have, at least not in a way that goals work.

Why? Because veganism is just a lifestyle but all of us are constantly learning about new ways that we could be better and more ethical. 

Yes, strive to be vegan but also strive to constantly improve and grow and expand who you are. No person is completely without faults, some are just more willing to acknowledge them and learn.

• Be open and willing.

If you truly want to change something in your life and do things that you didn’t know were possible just a few months ago, you will have to approach it with an open and willing mind.

If you doubt you will be able to make the necessary changes you will most likely quit. Not one person became successful without believing that they could do it. 

You must be open to learning new things and, most importantly, willing to try doing them at least once. 

I hope these few tips inspired you to make vegan choices today, tomorrow and every day. Maybe full-time or just one a day for a start.

Of course, I hope that you will be moving forward and not stop when it gets challenging but you have to start somewhere.

You will feel so good and at peace once you begin, though. Suddenly you are not just hurting because of all the pain you see around you. You are doing something about it. Creating a better world for all beings. 

Living according to your deepest values.

If you want more tips on how to create a sustainable eco-friendly vegan lifestyle please make sure you are following me on Pinterest and Instagram.

Tanja