What is Right Livelihood?

I was introduced to the idea of right livelihood through a writing course during my graduate studies in environmental education.

Here are some definitions I like:

“As a way of working and as a way of thinking about work, right livelihood embodies its own psychology–a psychology of a person moving toward the fullest participation in life, a person growing in self-awareness, trust, and self-esteem. Abraham Maslow…calls them “self-actualizing.” The phrase simply means growing whole.”

~Marsha Sinetar, The Psychology of Right Livelihood.

The Second Definition is from www.rightlivelihood.org:

“The idea of ‘right livelihood’ is an ancient one. It embodies the principle that each person should follow an honest occupation which fully respects other people and the natural world. It means being responsible for the consequences of our actions and taking only a fair share of the earth’s resources.”