The Next Question

People often ask me how I changed to a plant based diet. There seems to be a disappointed disconnect as I shrug my shoulders and reply, “I just decided to do it.”

I really want to give people a 7 step plan for getting rid of all the saturated fat and cholesterol and zero-fiber animal foods. But, truthfully, I woke up one day and decided that for the next 30 days I would eat only plants. I rummaged around and found some oatmeal and blueberries. It was hodge-podge, messy, and creative. Lunch was a baked potato and some left over broccoli. I opened a can of beans and topped it with some salsa. It was ugly at times, but each day I got better, and I learned.

First, I decided. But as my husband points out, I have an unusual ability to go “all-in” on things. He’s not wrong. But I think it comes from the question I asked AFTER I made the decision.

Once decided, and when things get hard, I don’t revisit the decision. I never asked, “Should I keep eating plants on vacation or while traveling?” but instead I asked, “How will I keep eating plants while on vacation and traveling?” It’s a big difference.

How will I eat plants at the Mexican restaurant, or at the barbecue place that my father-in-law picked for his birthday? How will I eat plants at this work dinner? The all-in success was found in never revisiting the “should”. The success was found in asking the “how”.

Too often we sabotage ourselves going backward to re-answer a question that we have already answered. I know I should go to the gym. I should stop drinking. I should cook more. I should get to bed earlier.

We usually go back to re-answer it when obstacles come. I should go to the gym, but work has been too crazy. I should stop drinking but maybe not on football weekends. I should cook more after the kids have less activities. I should go to bed earlier after summer is over.

But what if instead we said:

How will I get to the gym with work being this crazy?

How will I stop drinking during football season?

How will I cook more with all the kids activities happening.?

How will I get to bed on time during the summer?

The “should” statements are a wish for a future that never seems to come, and the “how” questions are committed actions.

How will I stay married to this person?

How will I be successful at work?

How will I stay sober?

The key to success often isn’t just in the decision. It is almost always in the next question.