Step 17: Seek Out (and Sniff-Test) New Ideas

Today, I want to help you seek out and sniff-test some new ideas.

But first, let’s review our roles:

You are the expert on you.

I am an integrative health coach. And if you hire me for that role, I partner with you to create healthy lifestyle behaviors that you’ve been unable to put in place alone. But it’s not me telling you what to do. It’s a partnership.

My other role is as healthy-lifestyles educator. That means I present information for free on this blog. And I provide information, support and cheerleading for my customers in the direct-selling company that I represent. In both of these places, the information I present includes what’s worked for me, or what I’ve seen work for others. Or maybe it’s something I’m curious about and want to research for us both.

You’re still the expert on you.

So now back to the original premise.

Seek Out (and Sniff Test) New Ideas

As part of this Write 31 Day challenge, I’ve planned out my posts to help you take steps to a healthier you. The steps are based on what I’ve seen work for me and for others.

And I always sniff test the info I relay.

So what do I mean by that? Consider the source. What expertise do they offer? What motivates them to bring me this information? How do they show up?

Then, is the information relevant and authoritative? Do their facts support their conclusions? What information is left out that I needed to know? Do we need to add a grain of salt?

Maybe it’s because of my past training and work as a newspaper reporter, but ideas and information fascinate me. This is why I curate so much of it for you here and on social media. It must pass my sniff test.

A Few Other Bloggers in the Write 31 Days Challenge

So with ALL OF THAT being said, I thought it would be fun today to take a look at a few other bloggers from the “Health, Wellness and Food” category of the Write 31 Days challenge. Obviously, I am not responsible for their content. And I won’t say that everything they write falls under the “healthy” category, because I haven’t read every word.

But these women passed my initial sniff test. And they passed my relevance-to-you test. So I thought I’d share to see what nuggets you might find:

Nichelle Marie blogs this month about learning to meditate and the effect it is having on her life.

CoffeeSnob318 writes about running. Running wild as she calls it.

Beverley Baird blogs about 31 Days of Healthy Choices.

Traci writes about gluten-free cooking.

Best friends Amanda and Laura write about 31 Days of Meal Planning.

Who’s passed your sniff test lately? Any new writers you follow? Anything you’d like me to write about here, during the rest of my “31 Steps to a Healthier You” series? Comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

I’m Amy Hoogervorst, an integrative health coach, offering grace and space for a healthier you. Thanks for joining me for Step 17 in the “31 Steps to a Healthier You” series, part of #Write31Days 2017. You can read what the series is all about here and catch up on past posts. If you don’t want to miss a thing, subscribe to get each one in your inbox.