The Surprising Key to Gain New Health Benefits

You want to be gloriously healthy, but thinking too much about change can derail progress. What if you could skip hesitation and dive right in? When you take action, momentum builds, and the project comes alive.

The key is to reduce or eliminate the space between inspiration and doing.

We often say we will correct a plan and make changes after we think about it. But for immediate results, eliminate the middle part of thinking about it and just do it. When you promise yourself that you will return to an activity later, you are leaving a lot to chance. My constant reminder (even to myself) is DO IT NOW before enthusiasm fades and life gets in the way.

Here’s what it looks like when you are acting with momentum…

• You need a tool you find online, so put the tool in a cart, pay for it, and also start acting on the list of related activities. You will be ready for action as soon as your tool arrives.

• You want to try a new recipe. Arrange the ingredients for it on the kitchen counter. Start a timer because seeing progress unfold keeps motivation high. Not what you expected? See my experience with sourdough bread, below.

• Share your enthusiasm and message a friend about the great idea you are going to act on right now. The immediacy will make an impact on both you and your friend, who is wishing you success and feeling excited to also do something new.

  

It won’t be perfect, but…

Perfection can be overrated.

Since you can’t factor in everything, think of it as a practice run. Each attempt refines your process and builds confidence. A change may become a trial run (a beta test). Refining with each new effort can bring you closer to your desired result. Sometimes you just have to give it a go and see how it shakes out.

For example, you may have been considering kefir for its probiotic benefits. You like the idea based on everything you’re hearing and reading. And you also recognize the superiority of homemade kefir, so you begin to think about making kefir to add to your daily nourishment routine. Then your “yeah-but” critic kicks in. Your thinking goes something like this:

• I don’t feel I have the time or energy for this right now.

• I don't have a source for kefir grains to get started.

• I want to use raw milk for my kefir because of the reported advantages, but I don’t know if it is legal where I live.

  

Sound familiar? These are all valid concerns, but they’re just speed bumps on the road to better health.

What to do? Instead of letting these doubts stall you, take a small, simple step to build momentum. Pick up a bottle of kefir at the grocery store and start with 1-2 ounces a day. Get used to including it in your menu. Over time, try different flavors—or stick with unflavored—to see what works for you. In the meantime, you find you are gathering more information about the possibilities of making your own.

See what this is doing? It is building momentum instead of unraveling a good idea with doubt and overthinking.

Of course, I realize kefir is not a big leap if you are already enjoying the benefits of it, but apply this thinking to any activity you are hesitant about. If a project captures your interest, just do it.

Here’s an example from my own recent experience.

I really love making fermented foods and, because I am gluten-free, I wanted to learn to make gluten-free sourdough (fermented) bread. I dived right in with a tutorial and website of someone who was reassuring and showed the steps of making a starter and final loaf of bread. I did everything as instructed, and I produced a very heavy and difficult-to-cut wad of something. Shall we say, it didn’t look like the picture?

Next, I discovered that a GF chef I’ve learned a lot from had a different system for GF sourdough bread. I trusted her other recipes, so again, I dived in. It was a completely different experience. My loaf looked OK, but the flavor was not what I hoped for.

So, I quickly searched for more assistance and, because I had begun experimenting at this rapid-fire pace, I kept my momentum and was not disappointed by the interim results. Each loaf wasn’t just a learning experience. It was proof that progress happens when you stay curious and keep going with action.

Now, I can proudly say I’m happy with what I’ve developed from combining techniques from a variety of sources.

And to ensure that this last loaf is not a fluke, I’ll be making another one, right away, before the thrill of success has fizzled.

Take it from someone who has always excelled in excuses—it is so much easier to do it before the critic in your mind starts to hammer you with ideas of perfection. What’s the worst that can happen?

Oops. I’m sorry I said that. If you are like me, you don’t want to think something worse could happen! Seriously—just take the first step. Your future self won’t regret it. What’s one small thing you can do today to take that first step? What’s calling to you? START IT NOW.

Final note: What do you do when you are faced with conflicting advice? Be discerning and consider the sources. Who is against it and who is for it? Are the concerns really applicable to you? Research may be necessary, especially for health issues, but use your noggin.

💡 Quick Takeaway:

• Eliminate hesitation—build momentum by taking immediate action.

• Trial and error sharpens your skills. Learn, refine, and repeat.

• Forget perfection. Take that first step now, and fine-tune along the way.