ExamineHealth

It's often assumed that big changes originate from big moves. That in order to make a greater difference, one needs to make a greater effort. I have found that this is not always true, in life, but especially when it relates to your health. The human body is an example of a system that responds very well to gradual change and consistent effort.

There are many, many examples of this. Taking vitamins or herbal supplements is a great one. Taking a single multivitamin for one day, or even better yet, taking a massive dose of vitamins in a single sitting, is not going to have much of a sustained effect on your general health. This is primarily because your body can only absorb a limited amount of the vitamins at one time. Therefore, in order to truly realize the benefits of taking vitamins, or another supplement, you need to take maintenance doses over a period of time. This will eventually saturate your blood with the vitamins that you're taking and allow your body to maintain a constant level within the body.

This concept can be applied to exercise as well. A little bit of exercise every day, is better for you than a lot of exercise during an isolated event. Your body needs to get into a rhythm to experience training. It needs to have constant exposure to work loads beyond it's normal level, so that it knows that it must adapt. It's this adaptation to the constant increased effort that causes your muscles to grow and your capabilities to increase.

Stretching is another example - and a very good one to illustrate this point. If you perform the same stretches every day, you'll notice an increase in flexibility in those joints and pivot points. You will eventually be able to stretch farther than you could when you started. As long as you maintain your stretching routine, you will continue to make progress. However, if you stop performing that stretch for a while, you'll notice that your newfound flexibility will degrade. After a while, you will be back to your original flexibility levels. It's this constant application of the technique that allows for the constant improvement.

This concept is one that I've found useful to internalize. It takes a lot of the pressure off of having to perform big moves, or initiate major changes in my lifestyle to reach my goals. I've found it much more effective to focus on the small things, and let them build on themselves. Eventually all those little grains of sand add up to build a mountain. This is directly applicable to your habits.

Remember, your habits are perfect examples of small things that you do on a regular basis that can add up to a significant effect. One cigarette might not seem like it does much damage by itself. However, add together the effects of constantly smoking, even 10 cigarettes a day, every day, for years. The harm is then palpable and dangerous. This powerful concept can just as easily be used for good, instead of harm. Consciously determine where you want to go, then choose the baby steps that you need to take to get there.

I apply this often when learning a new subject. Sometimes the topic you're learning about is so foreign, with no content to relate to, that you imagine it almost impossible to gain competency in. Those who don't give up at the thought, may try to make big moves. They may take a crash course, or jump feet first into the biggest book about the subject they can find. I find it much more effective to start slow. Sign up for some newsletters from the field you're interested in. Read some blog posts. Skim the surface. You'll gradually gain a basic understanding of the related topics. You'll get your bearings in this new frontier and you'll be better equipped to gradually dig deeper into the specific portions of the field that you're particularly interested in. Your resulting base of knowledge will have a better foundation, and will be more applicable than if you had tried to dive into the deep end from the start.

Relationships are another great example of this concept. Almost anyone who has spent time in a long-term relationship can tell you that much more important than large, grandiose, displays of affection, are the little things that you do everyday to show your love and respect the other person. They represent a pattern of a greater whole. Single acts are like spikes on a line graph, they are erratic and unpredictable. Of greater value is the slow and steady climb. You can depend on it, you can apply analysis and rely on the results. It shows strength of the overall system, or character, rather than the capability to make sudden spurts. It's more of a reflection of the whole.

In large part, the systems that surround you are based on repeating patterns, on cycles.  All great things are built this way.  Look at the earth itself, the mountains, the oceans, the forests, the deserts, all formed by constantly cycling patterns.  It's these cycles that contain the power for change.  Learn to harness these cycles and you can also leverage this same power for your purposes.

Keep this in mind as you act to optimize your life, and increase your overall health. You want to make lifestyle changes. You want to change yourself as a whole. You want to make improvements that will stick. You want to provide benefits that will build on themselves and reap more benefits as time goes on. Focus on the little things, master the small step, you'll see that your momentum will increase and before you know it you'll look back and barely be able to see in the distance, where you came from.