The Choices That Shaped My Life: How I Learned from the Best and Worst Decisions

Let me take you back to a moment when I made a decision that changed everything. Picture this: I’m sitting there, staring at the book on the table. Something as simple as opening a book—sounds insignificant, right? But that decision, that one choice, it was like flipping a switch in my brain. That was the moment I told myself, “I don’t want to be just another person in the crowd.” I wanted to be someone who lives with intention. And from that day, I committed to self-improvement.

But let’s backtrack a little. See, growing up, I didn’t always make the best decisions. I’ve made some terrible ones too. Like the time I spent countless hours scrolling through social media—just scrolling, mindlessly. Has that ever happened to you? You pick up your phone for a quick look, and suddenly, it’s been two hours. That’s when I realized… Wow. I’m wasting my time. I’m wasting my life.

But I want to share with you three of the best decisions I’ve ever made. These weren’t just choices—they were shifts in the way I think and live.

Best Decision #1: The Day I Started Reading Books

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Reading a book? That’s a ‘best decision?’” Yes, because that was the day I chose growth over comfort. Up until that point, I’d been going through the motions, but opening that book was like opening a door to new possibilities. I was driven by the hunger to improve myself, to become an entrepreneur, to lead a life on my terms. And you know what? That small action set off a ripple effect, changing the course of my life forever.

Best Decision #2: Pitching in Front of the Class

I remember standing there, knees shaking, heart racing. I had to give a pitch in front of my class. Now, if you knew me back then, you’d know I wasn’t the type to stand up and speak with confidence. But that day, I decided—No, this is it. I’m going to face my fear head-on. I’m going to do something that scares me. Why? Because I wanted to step outside of my anxiety and become someone who influences others. And you know what’s funny? The moment I finished, I realized that fear wasn’t real. It was just my mind holding me back.

Best Decision #3: Choosing Not to Live an Average Life

I remember this moment so clearly. I was at work, and my manager asked me to do something I absolutely hated. And it hit me—I don’t want to spend the rest of my life like this, doing things that don’t excite me, following someone else’s orders. That day, I made a decision. I said to myself, I’m going to create my own path. I refuse to be average. I refuse to let anyone tell me how to live my life.

But let’s talk about the worst decisions, because, trust me, I’ve made some terrible ones too. And these bad choices… man, they’ve taught me just as much, if not more, than the good ones.

Worst Decision #1: Scrolling Through Social Media

This one hits hard. We’ve all been there, right? You start scrolling, and suddenly, you’re in this black hole of videos, memes, posts—it never ends. And one day, I looked at the clock and realized I had wasted hours. Hours! It was a wake-up call. All that time could’ve been spent working on myself, building my future, but instead, I was stuck in a loop of distraction. That’s when I knew… something had to change.

Worst Decision #2: Speaking Too Softly

For a long time, I was that person who spoke with a low voice. It wasn’t that I didn’t have something to say—I was just too shy to say it with confidence. But here’s the thing: if you don’t believe in what you’re saying, why should anyone else? I was giving people half of my energy. And I realized… If I keep doing this, I’m sabotaging my future. So, I made a choice. I decided to speak up, to be heard, to give people my full energy.

Worst Decision #3: Choosing Comfort Over Growth

There was a time when I always chose the easy way out. I didn’t want to step out of my comfort zone because I was too afraid of what people would think of me. I thought, If I try something new, it’ll feel weird, and people might judge me. But you know what I realized? Every successful person I look up to went through that same discomfort. That’s the path to growth. If I want to be successful, I have to be willing to do what others aren’t.

So, what’s the lesson here? Every decision, big or small, matters. The good choices push you forward, but the bad ones? They teach you where you’re going wrong.

And now I ask you—What decisions are you making today? Because one small choice can change everything.

Let’s make sure we’re choosing wisely.