Have you decided where you want to be in the next 5 to 10 years of your life? In his book, Awaken the Giant Within, Anthony Robbins makes a simple, yet thoughtful statement. He says, “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 may find ourselves in the, I wish I had done that frame of mind. This statement also comes up several times in the Quran when people wished they had believed or wished they had done good deeds when they had the chance. The main reason for this lack of planning is that we are unable to make firm decisions and commit to them. Another reason is that we let our 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 taken action. It is through acting upon your decisions that you demonstrate commitment to them. Paralleling this with the command to act every time faith is mentioned in the Quran and we begin to see how important taking action is. When one makes a decision and declares they are a Muslim, he or she must also demonstrate that faith through their actions.

It is not only your decisions that you need to commit to. You must also make a firm commitment to evolving into the kind of person that you want to become - this requires the ultimate commitment. Being a Muslim falls under the category which Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has described as, “…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 the decision to truly 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 a 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 it can be destructive. The power of decision-making can allow us to overcome this mindset instantaneously.

More importantly, Allah promises us, “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.” (Surat Al 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 has promised us a good and pure life; one that is filled with happiness and reward as opposed to misery and difficulties.

We must realize that anything we have accomplish, whether on an individual level, or within our family, community, society or the world, was the consequence of a decision we made. So you, right now, at 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 by the will of Allah.

Now that you realize the importance of decision-making, you may be wondering how to make those life-changing decisions. Up till now, you may have only been stating preferences such as, “it would be great if I was able to get this job” or “I would feel so much better if I lost 10 pounds.” In these instances, you’ve stated your preference, but you haven’t actually made a decision. The way to overcome this state of wishful thinking is to decide that you will make it happen, by the will of Allah. As Anthony Robbins states in Awaken the Giant Within, “making a true decision means committing to achieving a result and then cutting yourself off from any other possibility.” Many of us may not be accustomed to being this serious and clear about our decisions; however, it is this clarity that gives us the power to act upon our decisions.

So how can we make powerful decisions? What is the ultimate secret? The simplicity may surprise you. The secret is to make them. Yes, make a powerful decision today! What have you been procrastinating or avoiding for days, months, or even years? Challenge yourself, be courageous and make the decision to improve your life today. And when you do it once, do it again and again until you become accustomed to making powerful decisions as opposed to stating preferences.

If you’re not sure where to start, think of the following types of decisions that have a big impact on your life:
Your decisions about your attitude
Your decisions about your values
Your decisions about your actions

How satisfied are you today with your attitude, values and actions? How do they assist you in your life? Do they serve as constant barriers for you and causes of failure or are they factors that contribute to your success and happiness?

Many of us refrain from making a decision because we are afraid it will be the ‘wrong’ decision. This can be very paralyzing and limiting to your potential and success. As human beings prone to error, we won’t always make the right decisions and that’s okay. What’s important to remember is that we must be flexible and learn from our decisions (whether good or bad) in order to make better ones in the future.

Embrace your ability to make powerful decisions today and witness the profound difference they can and will make in your life, by the will of Allah.

By Raghad Ebied