The Power of a Decision

Hello there. Molweni. Molweni😊!

This past Sunday, while driving to church, my husband casually reminded me that it was the anniversary of our move. Two years ago, almost to the day, my family and I packed up our entire lives, boarded a plane, and moved to a new city. It’s wild how quickly time can pass. In the moment, it truly feels like those two years flew by, but the truth is the journey itself hasn’t been quick or easy. It’s been a transition, and not without its challenges. The realisation immediately put me into reflection mode, and I found myself thinking deeply about everything the past two years have held. Those reflections then turned into a really impactful conversation between my husband and I on the drive back from church. I felt prompted to share parts of that conversation with you, because perhaps some of these thoughts will resonate with where you are right now.

Two years ago, I was in a completely different mental, emotional, and physical space and not a great one, if I’m honest. I had reached a point where I was simply tired of my reality and knew something needed to change. Interestingly, a move to a different city wasn’t actually part of my original plan. I thought a new company, or at most a different suburb, would do the trick. If I’m being completely honest, I wanted change… just not too much 😂. I still wanted to feel comfortable and safe. My husband played a huge role during that season, gently helping me broaden my thinking and nudging me to step out of the boat. It was uncomfortable, and I wasn’t exactly excited about the idea, but I made a decision to at least try. I decided to put myself out there. When the prospect of moving to a different city came up, I struggled with it a bit. I was scared. Eventually, I made a decision and took a real leap of faith.

Let me tell you, as someone who loves control, this was both the most courageous and the most daunting thing I’ve ever done. I hated not having guarantees, but I jumped anyway. Two years later, I’m on the other side of that decision, and I’m so, so grateful that I took the leap. Sometimes, you won’t have the full journey mapped out; all you’ll have is a decision. Often, we delay making one because we’re desperate to control the outcome. What I’ve learned is that not making a decision is still a decision. By avoiding the difficult choice, we’re choosing for things to stay exactly the same. Either way, every decision carries power and sooner or later, we all live out the consequences of the choices we make (good or bad).

The other realisation we came to is that you can literally change your life 😄. We often miss this because we imagine life change as a big, dramatic, once-off event. In reality, change exists on a scale, and joy, growth, and results can be found at every point along that scale. We just have to stop ignoring the seemingly small shifts. Some decisions may look minute on the surface, but they can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being, even if that impact isn’t immediately visible. Other decisions really are big, and their effect on the quality of your life is undeniable. Every point on the scale matters.

When I look back and audit my life two years later, in fact, our life and well-being as a family, the needle has moved significantly; all because of one decision. Two years ago, I could only dream about the mental and emotional stability I have now. There were moments when it felt completely unattainable. Turns out, I just had to make a decision (simple, right? 😆 You know what I mean…).

I came across a quote last year that has stayed with me, one I’ve been reflecting on and trying to decide whether I agree with it or not: “Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.” by Laurie Buchanan. At first, this statement felt harsh. My initial thought was, This doesn’t take into account my circumstances or all the things beyond my control. But the more I sit with it, the more I think I understand it. We may not be able to make massive changes all at once, but we can make small, intentional changes over time, and so much of that is rooted in the decisions we make. I’d even go as far as saying it comes down to the quality of those decisions.

Maybe the power isn’t in having the whole plan figured out, but in having the courage to decide on the next step, even if it feels small or uncertain. Change doesn’t always arrive loudly or all at once; sometimes it begins quietly, the moment you choose to move forward in a new direction. So if you’re standing at a crossroads, waiting for clarity or certainty, this is your reminder: you don’t need the entire journey mapped out. You just need to decide what the next step is. Because sometimes the smallest decision is the one that changes everything. That is the power of a decision.

I find it incredibly encouraging to think that, at any given moment, you can change your life simply because you can decide. One year from now, your life could look completely different.

What decision, big or small, could you make today that would shift something in your world?

Have an intentional and blessed week.

Lots of love,

Zizo