Ice Cream is the Key to Your Success

August 8, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life with 32 Comments

Photo by Seaturtle (creative commons)

Do you like ice cream? Of course you do. Who doesn’t like ice cream?!

What’s your favorite flavor? Maybe it’s rocky road or chocolate chip cookie dough.

Or maybe you don’t even have a favorite. If you are like me, you might even have several favorites, not one specific favorite flavor.

If you are given the choice of ANY kind of ice cream, I doubt your choice is vanilla by itself.

Yet, sometimes we ALWAYS choose vanilla.

Whether writing, painting, parenting, teaching, or dancing, it is easy to take the safe approach.

To be boring.

To not mix things up.

When you always choose vanilla, there are no surprises.

Nothing changes.

Sure, you aren’t disappointed, but you aren’t satisfied either.

Put your personality into what you are doing.

Just as not everyone loves cookies n’ cream, not everyone should like what you do.

Go ahead, set yourself apart from the rest.

But don’t be controversial just to get a response—it comes across as premeditated and insincere.

Be yourself. Don’t settle for vanilla when you know you want rocky road.

Will you share in the comments a part of your personality you have been holding in?

I’ll go first. I’m a pretty big conspiracy theorist. I’m not sure how being an X-files junkie can help my writing, but I think I need to tap into that aspect of my personality a bit more. Maybe I should have “Freaky Fridays”? :)

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http://joebunting.com Joe Bunting

This is the best title ever.

I’ve been holding in my cherry garcia side. But seriously, I agree with Cole. Lately, I’ve been missing the depths of my emotion.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks buddy, I’ll be honest, I really, really liked this title too haha. I really appreciate it Joe. You are one of my writing mentors.
  
  Folks, if you are a writer, please get to know Joe. He’s awesome.
  - http://joebunting.com Joe Bunting
    
    Thanks Jim.
http://beckfarfromhome.blogspot.com/ Beck Gambill

Mmmm, ice cream, now I’m going to have to go eat the home-made vanilla in my freezer! But I’ll probably put some caramel syrup on it I don’t feel like I write or live too vanilla, but interestingly I have been asking myself lately if there is something I want to write that I’ve been afraid to. Hmmm, I’ll have to give that some thought.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Home-made ice cream is amazing. I don’t think that would count as boring vanilla haha. Will you please be sure to share it with me if you write something you are scared of? I’d love to read it! Thanks.
http://intentionaltoday.com/ Ngina Otiende

Seriously Jim? You had to use that picture, talk about icecream, when am up at midnight, trying to crunch up vanilla words? And i have no moose tracks in my fridge

Lol! seriously though, I love the challenge. First up, you and my hubby would get along great. He is a huge ( i mean huge) conspiracy theorist.

I just moved my blog recently from blogger to self-hosted wordpress. I have found my sweet spot with the new blog.

My thoughts – i need to stick to my writing voice (though still refining it). The blog is not all of me, just one aspect of me. There is a deliberate angle and message i want to share. So i think the key is find a way to play within those ‘boundaries?’
Yvette Carol

Freaky Fridays, when all the ghosts & freaks can come out of the woodwork! Love it. You should do it Jim, just to see what happens Speaking of ghosts & ghouls, I’ll ‘fess up and admit I believe in them. I’ve freaked myself out many a time! Ha ha. Oh and by the way, I like orange chocolate chip!!
http://twitter.com/missionsgirl susie finney

On my blog, I have what I call “Free Form Fridays” The rest of the week, what I write has to relate in some way to missions and/or Christianity, but Friday is my day to blog about whatever I want, no matter how random. I tend to be overly cautious in how I write, sometimes, but I think that’s mostly due to bad experiences in the past where others’ words wounded me. Oh, and Mint Chocolate Chip all the way!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Susie, just let ‘er rip (and trust someone else to help you filter). Otherwise you might be holding in some AMAZING work that could really change people! Maybe even more than you even know. If you need any encouragement, please just let me know. Thanks for sharing!!
  - http://twitter.com/missionsgirl susie finney
    
    I already really appreciate your encouragement Jim-thanks! Still trying
    to get into a regular groove, since I only recently started blogging,
    but hoping it has an impact on some people.
http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

I’m a Chunky Monkey, and I hope it shows.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Chad you rock. haha Love it!!
http://colebradburn.com/ Cole Bradburn

Hey Jim,

If you would have said frozen yogurt, I would have been right there with ya Hard to believe, but I don’t really enjoy ice cream.

As far as your question, I think my life/responsibilities/maturity can call for such a even temperament that the depths of emotions aren’t experienced or expressed.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Frozen yogurt is close enough haha. That’s why you write, right Cole? To vent and let some of those emotions out, right?
http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

I love vanilla. And chocolate. But sometimes I buy MooseTracks. I kind of subvert my quirky, sarcastic, weird inappropriate humor in my posts. It gets me in trouble.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Larry, we are all weird That’s one thing I’ve learned. I’m trying to be “me” more and more.
http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

Great post, Jim, and so true. I don’t have a side that I have been holding in. The last few years have been all about exploring who I really am and not being afraid to show it in my writing. I think in the past I tended to shy away from showing my weaknesses and pain, but that has been one of the things people have resonated most with in my writing. I think it takes a while to find your voice, but you need to be true to it once you do.
http://twitter.com/meltitus Melissa Titus

I knew it was about ice cream! It’s always about ice cream. I think I tend to tone down my sense of humor. I’m goofy and like to laugh at myself and tease my friends, too. I guess I assume in writing I need to be serious all the time. Vanilla all the time. I assume people want vanilla. The funny thing is, when I’ve put rocky road out, I get better responses. Some people do like it. It’s hard to feel like everyone else is vanilla (what people want to read) and you are mint chocolate chip (what a few people will read). But, hey, if I reach those few people and give them hope or help them by sharing the messiness of my own life, that’s enough.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Well said Melissa. It’s hard isn’t it! No one likes to be rejected. Writing is releasing what is inside and putting it on paper. If you don’t like my writing, it can appear you don’t like me. (While you could LOVE what I write the very next day!)
Adeline Gonzales

I love this…because many times I am SO vanilla when I want to be anything but!lol I especially love this: “But don’t be controversial just to get a response—it comes across as premeditated and insincere.” So true!!
http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson

I do know some people who would pick vanilla over any other type of ice cream. But not me! I don’t want vanilla ice cream or a vanilla life. Great post, Jim

Katie
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks Katie! I appreciate it! You are living all of the flavors under the rainbow IMO, definitely not vanilla!
  - http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson
    
    Thanks, Jim. It’s more vanilla-like than I’d like, honestly.
    - http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
      
      Understood- but the key is you are growing and learning. It’s been awesome to see how much you’ve grown in just the last few months!
      - http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson
        
        Thanks!
http://chrystalmurphy.com/ Chrystal

Not like cookies n cream??? How could someone NOT like cookies n cream?!?!?!

Like Christine, I tend to be a bit on the snarky/sarcastic side. But when I try to be less snarky, I tend to sound like I’m giving a lecture. I have a hard time balancing being myself and yet not being too sarcastic in my writing.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  I think sarcasm/being snarky can be a good thing if used sparingly and when it’s obvious you are being sarcastic. Just keep writing and don’t be afraid to let a little bit of that come out every now and then. If you have a good filter in place (i.e. spouse or writing friend) that can help a TON with tone. My wife is my first filter and then I have several writing friends who help me make sure I keep my tone in line and it also helps a TON with revising and editing!! Behind every good writer is a GREAT editor.
http://twitter.com/CRoyseNiles Christine Niles

Wow. I’d love to say something quirky and fun and make myself sound even more awesome than everyone seems to think I am. But really, i’m secretly snarky and cynical. And “glass half full of scorpions.” So that’s kind of like the version of Rocky Road that’s filled with yummy chunks of rocks and cement. I intentionally hold that part of me in as an effort to change my attitude, bit by bit.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  It’s okay to be snarky and cynical..if you call yourself out on it. Just by pointing out your flaws you can help others. The challenge is it is VERY humbling to do! I challenge you to try it sometime Christine! You can do it! Thanks for sharing!!
  - http://twitter.com/meltitus Melissa Titus
    
    So true, Jim! I recently posted a very vulnerable, pointing out your flaws post and it has gotten one of the best responses. People want to see the real you, not a pretend “I’ve got it all together” you. I’m still learning this.
http://twitter.com/cupojoegirl Eileen Knowles

Interesting question, Jim. I guess my answer would be that I sometimes try to restrain my “goofballness” Yes, I made that word up. What if I posted every goofy thing that crossed my mind….hmm.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  I don’t know if you need to post EVERY goofy thing that crosses your mind, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to be a little more goofy at times right? It’s pretty FUN Thanks for sharing Eileen!