Living green also helps shape personal conviction. It’s easy to go with the flow of society. It takes effort, research and lots of questioning to think for oneself and discover why you believe what you believe. Simply following a set of rules or social norms doesn’t reach very far into the soul. Living green provides the opportunity for a person to step back and question almost everything.
Simple things like not buying particle board furniture because it releases toxic fumes or using all-natural cosmetics and hygienic products because of the cancer-causing chemicals found in conventional ones. Without questioning, “what am I really purchasing?” and “what is this made from?” a person would never know he or she could be harming themselves, his or her home and the environment. Unplugging from the system and thinking for oneself is one of the riskiest and liberating ways to really discover true conviction.
Choosing to live green creates well-defined boundaries that are consistent with many Jewish disciplines. Not only is it a benefit for the environment and your overall health, it also builds up the soul to choose right from wrong and stand for your convictions even when it costs you something.