David J.

Pollay

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April 13, 2009

Check Your ‘Happiness Label’ First

It was my first night in New York City. I was on vacation. I stepped in line at the café. I was set on something really sweet for dessert – something special, a sort of celebration of being back in the city. The line in the café conveniently passed the display case of desserts.

I read the names on the little cards placed in front of each dessert: Four Layer Cream Cheese Cake, Iced Lemon Pound Cake, Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate Pecan Pie. They all looked delicious. Then I noticed that there were little numbers below the names. I couldn’t make them out, so I put on my glasses. Ahh . . . the little numbers were the calorie counts. That was a first for me. I had never chosen a dessert in a restaurant with that information available.

Up to that point in the café line, I had been leaning toward the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. Then I read the calorie count: 1,050 calories! That equaled more than four of my favorite chocolate bars. No way. That was too much. I wanted something sweet, but I didn’t need all that. As I approached the register, I saw a big chocolate pretzel rod. I looked at the calorie count: 100 calories. Sold. Even better, the pretzel was 70 percent less expensive.

The next day I was in line for dessert again – dessert is part of any vacation DNA – but this time I was in a different café. I saw those signs again. This time I was eyeing the Double Dipped Chocolate Molten Cake: 879 calories. Yikes! Then I eyed a big marshmallow Rice Krispie treat. I loved those as a kid. Mom used to make them for us. Easy decision: 220 calories. I ordered it, ate it and loved it. And I was happy I didn’t have to waste all my calories on one dessert.

On my way out of the restaurant I said to the cashier, “I love the calorie labels. Is that common in New York?”

“It’s everywhere. It’s actually the law in the city,” he said.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yup, we have to put the calorie counts on every food item we serve,” he said.

“What an excellent idea,” I thought to myself. We could make an informed decision every time we purchased a meal. How great is that? I could quickly take into account – in just a few seconds – how good it would be for me, how much energy it would give me and how my pants would fit the next day. The calorie labeling, I thought, was brilliant.

And then it hit me: What if we had information like that when we made other choices in our lives? What if we knew what choices would make us happiest? Should I sit and watch television, or should I read a chapter on the subject I’m studying? Should I check e-mail again, or spend time with my family? Should I surf the Internet, or write a thank you note to someone? Like choosing the right dessert, we want to choose well when deciding what to do with our time.

That’s why I created the idea of “Happiness Labeling.”

We all need help quickly assessing the options we have in life. Too often we make decisions without considering the full context of our concerns. We need an efficient sorting tool to guide us – our own happiness labels.

So, this week, think about what should be on your happiness labels. What should you consider when deciding what to do with your time? What will you find meaningful, enjoyable and worth doing? What will make you happier and more successful?

We, of course, don’t always make the best choices even when educated to the consequences of our decisions. We may look at our happiness labels, and still choose the one with the least “nutritional” value. Sometimes we just feel like indulging ourselves. Fine. We all have our moments. But, let’s spend most of our time looking at our happiness labels, make the best choices and enjoy our increased happiness and success as a result.

Now, what are you having for dessert?

David J. Pollay is the creator of The Law of the Garbage Truck™. Mr. Pollay writes the Monday Morning Momentum Blog each week. He is a syndicated columnist with the North Star Writers Group, creator and host of The Happiness Answer™ television program, and an internationally sought after speaker. Mr. Pollay’s book, Beware of Garbage Trucks!™, is due out later this year. Mr. Pollay is the founder and president of the consulting and seminar organization, The Momentum Project.

© 2009 David J. Pollay. Distributed by North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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