One Way2Go

“I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream.”

That might have been the first food marketing campaign in the history of America (or not).

Over the summer, I was thinking about how I order ice cream. When I’m in line, I think about all the different flavors and options and rattle around the possibilities in my tempted brain. Fruity goodness. Chocolate-chunky creaminess. Strawberry mixed with those bright red little pieces. Tropical coconut varieties. My mind bounces around as the line shortens.

Then – almost every time – I order mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone.

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And almost every time - I eat it too fast.

Easy4Me to Pick

I love mint chocolate chip. You may love vanilla, peach, rocky road, or even strawberry cheesecake, but most everyone has a favorite flavor of ice cream.

So why do I order mint chocolate chip? I’ve determined it’s because in my mind I know I like it and it hits the spot every time. It’s my favorite. If I’m going to have ice cream, I feel like I should get my favorite flavor. The funny thing is – there’s no real reason (besides obvious weight gain) why I can’t have pistachio today and mint chocolate chip tomorrow – or the next time.

That’s how patterns develop and how we establish our fallback routine. It’s safe. It’s reliable. It’s trusted.

Well, maybe it’s time to break some patterns. Try a new approach to the way you work. It may just work out even better than you expected. If not, you can always go back to the tried and true pattern of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a waffle cone.