Abundance in Veganism
There is abundance in veganism. I truly believe that living a vegan lifestyle is the most doable, sustainable, easiest, and abundant lifestyle that there is. I’ve always felt ecstatic and such an abundance about this.
There’s always options. There’s always choices. There continues to be more. If there’s something that you need and feel that you want, and you don’t see it out in the world, create it. Create it for you. Create it for other people because you may not be the only one who feels that way.
There are so many people coming into this lifestyle that are frustrated, misinformed, and overwhelmed. That’s understandable. It doesn’t have to be that way though. I’ve never felt that way because I was so excited. I finally found a way to live that worked so beautifully for me and still does, obviously. I just wanted to tell the whole world about it. That was in 2010, and I still feel this way.
I still want to share about it with everyone. You can really see the abundance in this beautiful lifestyle. There is so much abundance, love, passion, and beauty in this lifestyle. It is a way to live. It is a movement. It is a community that we are building. We can all collaborate with each other. We can all share how abundant this lifestyle is.
We can show others how doable, sustainable, simple, and easy a vegan lifestyle really and truly can be. It is whatever you make of it. So, you can make it the best. Choosing to live vegan has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life and the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. You have complete power and control over how you choose to live a vegan lifestyle and what choices you make. It can be amazing.
3 Mistakes
A few mistakes people make are that they think that veganism is just what they eat, they don’t read the ingredients in everything they use, consume, and put on their bodies, and they restrict themselves because they don’t understand, know, or realize that there is so much abundance and variety in a vegan lifestyle.
Powerful Mindset Shift
Shift your mindset. You don’t have to think in a scarcity mindset that you’re limited, that you’re restricted, that there is a lack of things because when you’re vegan, it’s all about abundance and we have more choices than non-vegans. So, don’t think I can’t have this, I can’t do that, I can’t support that, I can’t, can’t. Think, I choose. You can do whatever you want, so instead of thinking I can’t, think I choose not to support that, I choose not to have that because I don’t want to.
Align your mindset with your beliefs and your actions. When you say you can’t have that, it takes away your power. When you say I don’t want that or I choose not to supprt that, then that makes you empowered in your choices. We have standards, beliefs, views, and perspectives. It’s really about empathy and the fact that we don’t need to use animals at all. This is not just about food. It’s about the many ways that animals are being used.
When you say that you don’t want something, choose not to have something, or choose not to support something, you really understand why you don’t want to, why you believe what you believe, and that empowers you. You stay confident in your choices, you stay grounded, you stay firm, and no matter what, you never lower your standards. You have to know exactly what your beliefs are and exactly what you believe in, and stand by them. No matter what. You get to choose what you support. Once you know your reasons, your true beliefs, your standards, and what you feel, then, that’s all you need. You have complete control and power over that.
Vegan Affirmations
Here are a few affirmations for you: I choose to live vegan, and it is the easiest decision I’ve ever made. I love my reason(s) for living vegan. I know what veganism is, and I can choose to live by example if I feel like it. I am available for the simplicity and easiness that living a vegan lifestyle really is.
Your Reason(s)
Why are you vegan? When I went vegan in 2010, I chose to change the way I ate to feel better. I realized that veganism is so, so much more than what we eat. I ended up educating myself about what people put animals through and how people depend on animals + use them in so many ways. I was really shocked, disgusted, infuriated, and heartbroken to find out that animals are neglected, disregarded, abused, used, expolited, tortured, and more. I still feel this way.
At the same time, I was ecstatic, excited, and empowered to have found veganism and start living vegan because I discovered a beautiful way to live that could actually help animals, the planet, other people, and myself. It was literally the easiest thing I’ve ever done and the best decision I’ve ever made. Later on, I realized that I’m vegan because of empathy. It’s that simple. It’s ok if your reasons change for why you choose to live vegan. You learn different things, you experience different things, you grow, and you evolve. Your reasons for living vegan can change without your beliefs, ethics, and morals changing. Only you decide what all of that is for you.
Empathy Matters
It’s all about actually and truly imagining and thinking about how it feels to go through something someone else is experiencing. Can you imagine what other people, animals, and the planet go through and how they feel? Can you picture yourself in their place having their perspective and feelings? That’s what changes the world. It’s what changes lives. It’s that powerful. Empathy. It matters tremendously. It’s crucially important. It’s completely needed.
Three Books
Three books you should read are Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, Beg by Rory Freedman, and My Gentle Barn by Ellie Laks. I read Skinny Bitch when I went vegan in 2010. I got it from the library, and then I bought it. This book goes into vegan eating, and it doesn’t hold anything back. When I made the decision to live vegan, this is the first book I turned to. I am so glad that I did. By the way, this book is not about being skinny. This book will have a special place in my heart forever.
Beg is such an important book because it goes into all of the ways people use animals. It’s eye-opening and informative. I know that most people aren’t even aware that animals are used, and people don’t think about it. I’m so glad this book was written and published because it’s needed. This book gets people to see and realize that using animals is harmful to animals, and it’s really not necessary.
Ellie Laks is the Founder of My Gentle Barn, which is a farm animal sanctuary with locations in CA, TN, and MO. It’s beautiful reading her story. You learn a lot by reading about her rescuing and caring for many animals. This book is also about healing, and not only helping animals, but helping kids, too. Animal sanctuaries are needed and appreciated.
Making the Connection
People don’t live vegan for their health. Yeah, it’s one thing to eat plant based to be healthier, but veganism has nothing to do with health. Yeah, Vegan Beauty Power is about living a healthy vegan lifestyle for women because why wouldn’t you be your healthiest and live your best if you can? To live vegan, you have to make that connection. You have to have empathy for what animals, other people, and the planet are going through. That’s the only way we live vegan is if we make that connection.
There are so many people that eat plant based, but they don’t live vegan. They end up eating animals and animal products again. Even if animals, animal products, and all of that were healthy for us, we still wouldn’t eat them because we already made that connection and have that empathy. That is really why we live vegan. It’s really that simple, and it comes down to that.
Leading by Example
You can lead by example if you want to. That’s up to you. It can be fun, empowering, and powerful to lead by example with intention and purpose. You live your life in a thoughtful, meaningful, and mindful way, and people notice, see, and observe that. They ask you what you’re eating. They ask you where you got your bag, hat, or shoes from. They ask you what products you use on your hair and skin.
Those are just a few examples, and it happens a lot. They get curious about your lifestyle and they want to know more about it, even if it’s just little things they’re wondering about. How fun, easy, and simple. Yeah, this can happen with adults and kids. Anyone of any age can lead by example. Anyone of any age can also be curious and may want to make lifestyle changes. Little or big. It all matters. Keep living your life, keep being you, keep leading by example. Do you know that you’re appreciated and needed in this world?
Be the One
Be the vegan you wish you met before you were vegan yourself. If you think about it this way, it will be easier for you to talk to others about veganism if they ask and even if they’re questioning it. Be the light. Be the logic. Be the positive example. It’s ok to question things, but if you approach people with the intention of being the vegan you wish you met when you went vegan, people will be more likely to listen to you. You can listen to other people, too.
Of course, you’re not going to agree with everyone, but it can be done without judging, criticizing, putting someone down, or being an asshole to them. That’s important, too. It’s one thing if someone is being an asshole to you, but if someone is genuinely curious and wants to know more about veganism (even if they’re skeptical, have doubts, are set in their ways, have different views, and have concerns), you can be a decent human. This will be better for everyone.
Your Lifestyle is Not Your Personality or Identity
Let your personality out. What you like to do and what you do are not your identity or personality. The fact that you’re vegan, whatever your astrology sign is, whatever you do, wherever you’re from, wherever you live, if you’re a mom or not, what you love to do, what you do to make money, what you just do, etc., are not who you are. They’re a part of you and a part of your life. Don’t be afraid to be you. Let your real personality be out there for everyone to know and love you.
Living vegan is not your identity. Don’t let veganism define who you are. It’s just a part of you, like all other things are. So, it’s a movement, how you believe in something, the way that you live, and your lifestyle. It is definitely not your identity. You are who you are, and living vegan is just a part of you and a part of your life.
Vegan Misrepresentations
Vegans are not represented accurately in movies, tv, or books. I have not seen one time where we are represented accurately and realistically. Maybe there is. I really hope there is, but from what I’ve seen, there is not. Obviously, I haven’t seen everything, but ugh. It’s frustrating. I am going to change that. That is for sure.
I don’t know where they got the idea that we’re all hippies, that we all don’t use deodorant, that we all don’t shave, that we all only eat soy and grass, that we’re all fragile and weak, that we’re all this, that we’re all that, that we hate other people, that we all put animals first all the time, that we only care about animals, that we can’t stand anyone who’s not vegan, that we think we’re better than everyone else, that we don’t get enough protein, and it goes on and on and on. We’re not these misrepresentations.
Not all vegans are animal lovers, but we all do believe that animals deserve respect, privacy, space, and the right to live their own lives, too. We don’t need to use them at all. Before I was vegan, I never thought about how animals are treated and thought of as objects and property rather than the living beings that they are. It’s funny because before I was vegan, I called myself an animal lover. Now, I don’t consider myself an animal lover. Of course, there are animals who I know and love, but generally, I’m not an animal lover. I want my space, and I want to give them their space.
No matter how new someone is to veganism or how long they’ve been vegan, they will see how people think of animals as being so bizarre, disgusting, and sad. To know that people actually love dogs, horses, and cats and take care of them, but at the same time see cows, pigs, chickens, and fish as food and eat them is the absolute weirdest thing to me. To know that people actually love a certain species, but eats, uses, or wears the skin or feathers of the same species blows my mind in the worst way.
Then, I think back to before I was vegan. I was disconnected to all of this and didn’t even give it a thought until I was affected. It took how I was feeling to actually make lifestyle changes that affects animals way more. The biggest change that veganism showed me is truly having, feeling, and living with empathy. It’s also about the planet and other people. Things that don’t even affect me has me thinking of others now and feeling empathy deeply. That’s the most significant and beautiful change I’ve experienced through living this lifestyle, and I’m so glad that my eyes, heart, and mind are open because of it. You don’t have to be an animal lover to live vegan.
Intersectionality in Veganism
Veganism is intersectional, and it always should be. Period. Vegans care about people, animals, and the planet. We think about all of them. We think about what we do before we do anything because many things we do can affect others. We focus on human rights, animal rights, and environmentalism. It is all connected. So, any time I read or hear, “Veganism is about the animals – not about people,” they just don’t get it or care to. Yes, veganism is about animals, but it’s also about people and the planet. We can help animals and advocate for them while also helping and advocating for people and the planet. We empathasize with animals, but we need to emapthasize with people and the planet, too.
There needs to be communication between people, and there also needs to be listening. Veganism isn’t a competition either. No vegan is better than another vegan, and no vegan is better than any non-vegan. We can help animals and the planet without putting people down, judging people, criticizing people, harming people, and being horrible to people. There is no better vegan, better activist, or better way to live vegan.
Veganism is not just about animals. It’s about people and the planet, too. It’s a social justice movement and a lifestyle. If we disregard one and put down one without thinking about that and focusing on all of them, nothing is ever going to progress. We have to have empathy for one another. We have to listen to one another. We can be decent humans, and not criticize and not judge because no vegan is better than another vegan. There’s no wrong way or right way to do it or better way or anything. Veganism really includes all. It includes people, animals, and the planet. We have to remember that because all of them are connected.
“You can advocate for human rights and animal rights at the same time without taking away anything from either of them. Don’t compare their suffering. Understand their suffering. Be consistent in your stance against oppression of both human and non-human animals.” – Donny Oberoi
There is animal rights that we fight for and speak up for. There is also human rights that we fight for and speak up for. It makes absolutely no sense to only speak about and care about animals if you talk about living vegan and cruelty-free. Everyone has their own experiences. You cannot tell someone else how they feel.
“I cannot fight for the liberation of one group of individuals while upholding systems that oppress one another.” – Zipporah the vegan
No Perfection in Veganism
Veganism isn’t about perfection. Veganism is a way to live in which we choose to not use animals at all. We can focus on what we can control. There are things that we can’t control though. People may believe that someone isn’t vegan because of certain things, but that’s not true. Common examples of this are: someone taking medicine and someone who is vaccinated. Typically, medications and vaccines are tested on animals. You are still vegan if you take medicine and if you are vaccinated. The truth is that some people need medicine to stay alive and being vaccinated is having a layer of protection.
Yes, it would be wonderful and ideal for no one to need to take medicine and if vaccines weren’t needed. That’s not the reality though, and people taking medicine and being vaccinated to take care of themselves and stay healthy far outweighs the risks and cons of them not doing so. We have to be our best that we possibly can to take care of anyone else and to help others, which includes other people, animals, and the planet. Please take care of you, and put yourself first.
The definition of veganism from The Vegan Society is: “Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
As far as is possible and practicable. No one is perfect, and living vegan is not perfect. There are many ways you can help. Donate to organizations that are doing research and working on making animal testing non-existent like, XCellR8, Animal Free Research UK, and Center for Contemporary Sciences. Donate to or volunteer at animal sanctuaries.
Sharing About Veganism
There are different ways that you can share about veganism if you want to. A few of them are writing blog posts, articles, essays, books, poetry, songs, screenplays, scripts, plays, etc.), email, social media, public speaking, video, audio, photography, film, any other form of art dance, music, jewelry, makeup, graphic design, fashion, drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.), creating your own (events, foundation, company, organization, products, services, festival, etc.). All of these are effective + powerful ways, and they can be fun.
Community
It is so important and powerful to have a community or to be a part of one. You find support in a community. You find people that are going through the same things as you are and have the same interests as you. You find people that you can learn from. You can help other people, too. You can lead the way guiding someone and you can find that in someone else, too. It’s that collective support. You can find friendships in a community. You can share things with people in a community and get their input if you want it and vice versa.
You can find motivation, inspiration, and encouragement in a community and that is empowering. You can share stories, memories, and experiences in a community with others. I created Vegan Beauty Power because I saw a lack of support, guidance, education, confidence, and empowerment in the vegan women community. I welcome you to the Vegan Beauty Power community, and I embrace you. Thanks so much for being here with me.
Ending Thoughts
These are all important things to know about veganism that I could think of and are worth sharing. All of this is good for everyone to know, whether they’re vegan or not, regardless of how long they’ve been vegan, if they’re new to veganism, or if they want to live vegan. Thanks for reading, be amazing to yourself, and show yourself unlimited love.
