We demonstrate the existence of multiple converging sequences in the ab initio no-core shell model. By examining the underlying theory of effective operators, we expose the physical foundations for the alternative pathways to convergence. This leads us to propose a revised strategy for evaluating effective interactions for A-body calculations in restricted model spaces. We suggest that this strategy is particularly useful for applications to nuclear processes in which states of both parities are used simultaneously, such as for transition rates. We demonstrate the utility of our strategy with large-scale calculations in light nuclei.