As I think back through my life, I realize something surprising. The decisions that changed my life weren't always the big ones. Most of them started as small choices that didn't seem all that important at the time. Looking back now, I can see those little decisions completely changed the direction of my life.
One of those small decisions was quitting smoking so I could learn to run. I knew it needed to be done, but I kept hanging on. I wanted my proverbial cake and to eat it too. I wanted to hold on to a bad habit while trying to move toward something better. The truth is, you can't move forward while holding on to the very thing that's pulling you backward.
At the time, quitting smoking didn't seem like a huge decision. It was just one step I needed to take. But that one decision allowed me to become a runner, complete Army training, and prove to myself that I could do hard things.
Another small decision was simply going to church one Sunday morning. I almost didn't go. I was angry and frustrated with where my life was. I had finished Interior Design school, served 17 years in the Army, worked in real estate, and still felt like people didn't listen to me or value what I had to say.
That morning they sang the song Nobody by Casting Crowns. While I was sitting there listening, I heard these words in my heart: You are not a nobody. You are somebody. You are a vessel to tell others they are somebody too.
In that moment, everything changed.
I realized God doesn't make mistakes. Every single person has a purpose, and I finally began to believe that included me. Looking back now, that little decision to walk into church that morning changed the direction of my life.
Another small decision was deciding to become a life coach at the age of 55. It didn't seem like a huge decision at the time. My certification classes were online, so I could continue living my everyday life while working toward something new. I simply kept taking one class after another.
What I didn't realize then was that those small steps were preparing me for the purpose God had been leading me toward all along.
Today, I know this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Looking back, none of these decisions seemed life-changing in the moment. They were simply the next right step.
Maybe that's where you are today.
Maybe you're waiting for one big moment that will change everything.
What if it isn't one big moment?
What if it's one small decision?
One phone call.
One application.
One prayer.
One conversation.
One healthy choice.
One act of courage.
Small decisions have a way of becoming the biggest turning points in our lives.
So today, don't underestimate the power of one small step.
It just might be the decision that changes your life forever.