One Decision Can Change Your Life

The Power of Your Decisions

-By Raghad Ebied

Have you decided where you want to be in the next 5 to 10 years of your life?

Anthony Robbins makes such a simple, yet thoughtful statement.  He says “You see, ten years from now, you will surely arrive.  The question is: Where? Who will you have become? How will you live? What will you contribute? Now is the time to design the next ten years of your life – not once they’re over”.

Many times, we are in the “I wish I had done that” mode – we always seem to realize what we could have done a lot later than when we could have actually done it.  This statement also comes up several times in the Quran when people wished if they had believed or they wished if they had done good.

The reason for this is that we are not able to make firm decisions and commit to them.  Or we let the circumstances or the people around us make our decisions for us.

What does it take to make a decision? Making a decision takes an honest and courageous stance from you to understand what it is you really want in life.  It is a commitment to not let your environment make decisions for you.  To test whether you have truly made a decision, observe whether you have actually taken action. It is through acting upon your decision that you demonstrate commitment to it.  We could parallel this with how every time faith is mentioned in the Quran, it is coupled with action.  Therefore, when one makes a decision and declares they are a Muslim, they must demonstrate that faith through their actions.

However, it is not only your decisions that you have to show commitment to; more importantly, it is the kind of person that you want to become that needs the ultimate  commitment.  And we know that being a Muslim falls under the category which Allah (swt) described in the Quran as:

“You are the best nation ever to be brought forth for people. You order honor and forbid dishonor, and you believe in Allah” (3:110)

How can we be the best nation if we do not hold ourselves to the highest standards?

Making this decision to live your life at the highest standard must stand in the face of all obstacles, challenges, and failures whether they are in your work, your family, or due to the lack of support around you.

Unfortunately, many people never make the decision to live their life according to the highest standards because they are too consumed in a victim state of mind that blames their parents, or their teachers, or their lack of opportunities.  This type of mindset is not only limiting but can be destructive.  The power of decisions though can allow us to overcome all these belief systems in an instant if we so wish.

More importantly of course, Allah (SwT) promises us in the Holy Qur’an:

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, truly, to him will we give a new life, a life that is good and pure, and we will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.” (SuratAl Nahl: 97)

If we make a firm decision to live a good life, one which pleases Allah, and we act accordingly to that decision, then Allah (Swt) promises us a good and pure life – one that is filled with happiness and rewards as opposed to misery and difficulties.

Anything that anyone has accomplished, whether it was on an individual level, or in their family, community, society, or the world was a result of a decision that they made.  So you too, right now, this moment, can make a decision about who you are, how you want to live your life from now on and what you want to accomplish.  Your decisions will form your reality, all by the will of Allah (SwT) of course.

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