I Want Ice Cream

I’m not going to lie… I’m a sucker for vanilla ice cream. Add some fresh fruit with it, or put a scoop on top of a piece of pie, there are few things that makes my mouth water more. Yet, in the last year I’ve probably eaten vanilla ice cream less times than I can count on one hand.

I’m not sharing to tell you how ice-cream deprived I am, or asking you to express-ship me a carton overnight… It’s to highlight one very simple concept: While I want ice cream, I want something else more.

What’s more important to me than the sweet pleasures of vanilla ice cream is a long and healthy life where I stay in good shape and physically able to play with my kids and grandkids. What’s more important to me than the tasty delight of vanilla ice cream are my goals to impact the world, which require my very best and cannot be compromised by a sugar crash or a poor night of sleep.

In fact, sometimes in private settings (I’d do it more often if it didn’t sound so elitist!) when someone asks me if I want dessert I answer “Yes, I do… But I’m choosing not to have any because I want to achieve my goals more.” 

And whether I say it in my head or out loud, every time I do it’s a flex. It reinforces that I’m in control of my life, committed to what truly matters most, and able to overcome the temptations of instant gratification to invest in my long-term success. It fires me up and helps me compound results with other positive choices. 

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Now I’m fully aware that one bowl of ice cream every once in a while isn’t going to ruin everything. I know that there are moments in life that are meant to be enjoyed. But there’s a tradeoff to it and the right amount is somewhere on the spectrum between ‘always’ and ‘never’.

Over time I’ve arrived at the balance to enjoy one bite of something sweet - and do I savor it! It’s the right amount for me to enjoy something special without negatively impacting other things that are important to me.

Our minds want us to feel good right now and do the things that are pleasurable in the moment. But these things are often in conflict with the things we want most that we’re working toward in the future. The more often you can bring that perspective to mind, the more intentional you can be about the choices you’re making today, and the more aligned you are toward living your best life!