the day i decided to change my life essay

Short Essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life

Most people reach a point in their lives where they decide to quit living life like a Frisbee. For me, it seemed like forever. If this were a �Pirates of the Caribbean� classic, my take-home advice would be an endearing Jack Sparrow�s quote, �The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?�  � and I�ll tell you why.

My Grandfather�s tragic death had left an indelible mark on my life. At 14, I had to brave the pounding waves of the unknown, like a sailor without a compass. Grandpa, or Pa Daa-Daa-Jee as I fondly called him, was the closest thing I had to a family member, the one in whom I confided and sought strength.

His wisdom was so profound that you couldn�t help but be in awe of him. I�d learnt so much from him that writing a 500-word essay on my discoveries would be microscopic; yet, he had more to teach. He had seen it all, so of course, he had a lot to say.

While reclining on his lawn chair beneath the mango tree, pipe in hand, Pa would tell me about his great exploits in the British Indian Army. His eyes always twinkled with delight as his voice echoed his stories. Sitting next to him, I�d occasionally shift my gaze to the nearby bonfire, which seemed to nod in agreement to his tales.

As with any other Grandparents, there were a few things Pa expected his granddaughter to do. You were supposed to go to school, play with other children, and smile at others. “Smile,” he said, “It will make you feel better about yourself.” Yes, I did smile � on the outside, at least. On the inside, I would retreat, my face flushed with embarrassment. That was my early life.

As I grew up nervous and shy around people, Grandpa�s demise became pivotal in creating a vocal, free-spirited, and innovative lady. It didn�t happen overnight. Despite relocating to New York on my American-based parents� orders a year later, I felt dispirited as I had lost touch with my memory of him in Mumbai.

To avoid embarrassment, I would often repeat myself, which dented most of my relationships. This struggle would make me quiet or defiant in school � something I resolved to overcome in my early twenties. I was sick of being called a �Bombay freak.� I wanted to be seen and heard, but that wouldn�t happen if I continued down this unforgiving course. And then the day came.

One faithful morning, shortly after I had returned from a suspension, I was discussing the impact of conflict resolution on my life with my high school instructor when the conversation began to seep into my consciousness. A deep-seated hunger, coupled with my innate curiosity, compelled me to think differently.

I recognised anger as my go-to strategy for resolving disputes, which kept others at bay. The classroom became my battleground, and everyone, my enemy. I was still hurting from Pa�s death; it reflected in my actions. I craved to remain his little girl, never growing up because of my inability to handle issues affably.

As Mrs Eileen Evans continued, I realized what Pa Daa-Daa-Jee meant about smiling, a formidable trait that fosters long-lasting relationships. While alive, his words enthralled me; yet, I struggled to comprehend them. Now they shone like a beacon in the dark. At that point, I made a U-turn. Today, I can honestly say that I�m living my best life. Anytime I�m in a rough patch, I ask myself, �What would Pa do?�

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Essays About Life-changing Experiences: 5 Examples

Discover our guide for writing essays about life-changing experiences that combine three different elements: narrative, description, and self-reflection. 

Each of us has gone through life-changing experiences that shaped us into the individuals we are today. Because of how powerful they are, these events make for fascinating topics in writing. This subject doesn’t only let us tell our life stories, and it also pushes us to evaluate our behavior and reflect on why an incident happened.

Attract your readers by creating an excellent introduction and choosing a unique or exciting encounter. Paint a picture of the events that describe your experience vividly and finish with a strong conclusion.

5 Essay Examples

1. long essay on experience that changed my life by prasanna, 2. life-changing events: personal experience by anonymous on studycorgi.com, 3. my example of a life-changing experience by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 4. life-changing experience: death essay by writer annie, 5. a life-changing experience during the holiday season by anonymous on studymoose.com, 1. life-changing experience: defined, 2. the experience that changed my life, 3. life-changing events and how they impact lives, 4. everyday events that change a person’s life, 5. the person who change my life, 6. books or movies that changed my life, 7. a life-changing quote.

“Experiences can be good and sometimes terrible that results in a positive or negative impact on one’s life. Life is full of many unexpected challenges and unknown turning points that will come along any time. People must learn and grow from every experience that they go through in life rather than losing yourself.”

In this essay, Prasanna discusses her father’s death as her most challenging life-changing experience. She was cheerful, immature, and carefree when her father was still alive. However, when her father left, she became the decision-maker of their family because her mother was unable to.

Prasanna mentions that she lost not only a father but also a friend, motivator, and mentor. That sad and unexpected experience turned her into an introverted, mature, and responsible head of the family. Ultimately, she thanks her father for making her a better person, and because of the devastating incident, she realizes who she can trust and how she should handle the real world. You might also be interested in these essays about choice .

“In life, certain experiences present challenges that change the way people relate to themselves and their families. Certain life events mark life-changing moments that alter lives either positively or negatively. It matters how people handle their relationships at such critical moments.”

This essay contains two life events that helped the author become a better person. These events taught them to trust and appreciate people, be responsible, and value family. The first event is when their best friend passes away, leading to stress, loss of appetite, and depression. The second circumstance happened when the author postponed their studies because they were afraid to grow up and be accountable for their decisions and actions.

The writer’s family showed them love, support, and understanding through these events. These events changed their behavior, attitude, and perspective on life and guided them to strengthen family relationships.

For help picking your next essay topic, check out our 20 engaging essay topics about family .

“I thought it was awkward because he looked and acted very professional. In that moment I thought to myself, ‘this person is going to have a great impact in my life!’. I was very curious to meet him and get a chance to show him my personality.”

This essay proves that you should always believe in yourself and not be afraid to try something new. The author recalls when they had many problems and met an extraordinary person who changed their life. 

When they were in sixth grade, the writer had life issues that caused them to be anxious about any future endeavor. The author then says they don’t usually open up to teachers because they fear their reactions. Then they met Mr. Salazar, a mentor who respects and values them, and the writer considers him their best friend.

“When the funeral was over and he was laid to rest, I had a feeling I can’t even describe. It was almost an empty feeling. I knew I had lost someone that could never be replaced.”

Annie never thought that she’d go through a life-changing experience until the sudden death of her father. Her thoughts and feelings are all over the place, and she has many unanswered questions. She says that although she will never wish for anyone to experience the same. However, her father’s passing improved her life in some ways.

Her mother remarried and introduced a new father figure, who was very kind to her. Living with her stepdad allowed her to explore and do things she thought she couldn’t. Annie still mourns the loss of her birth father, but she is also grateful to have a stepdad she can lean on. She gradually accepts that she can’t bring her birth father back.

“This story as a whole has really changed me and made me an even better person in life, I’m so thankful that this happened to me because now I have a greater appreciation for the little things in life.”

The essay shows how a simple interaction on a cold day in December can completely change a person’s view on life. It starts with the writer being asked a small favor of an older man with Alzheimer’s disease to help him find his car. This experience teaches the writer to be more observant and appreciative of the things they have. The author was inspired to spend more time with loved ones, especially their grandfather, who also has Alzheimer’s disease, as they learned never to take anything for granted.

7 Prompts for Essays About Life-changing Experiences

Everyone has their definition of a life-changing experience. But in general, it is an event or series of events profoundly altering a person’s thinking, feelings, and behavior. Use this prompt to explain your understanding of the topic and discuss how a simple action, decision, or encounter can change someone’s life. You might also be interested in these essays about yourself .

For this prompt, choose a specific memory that made you re-evaluate your views, values, and morals. Then, discuss the impact of this event on your life. For example, you can discuss losing a loved one, moving to another country, or starting a new school. Your conclusion must contain the main lessons you learned from the experience and how it can help the readers.

Various positive and negative life-changing experiences happen anytime and anywhere. Sometimes, you don’t notice them until they substantially disturb your everyday life. 

To begin your essay, interview people and ask about a momentous event that happened to them and how it influenced their way of living. Then, pick the most potent life-changing experience shared. Talk about what you’d do if you were in the same situation.

Some life-changing events include common things such as marriage, parenthood, divorce, job loss, and death. Research and discuss the most common experiences that transform a person’s life. Include real-life situations and any personal encounters for an intriguing essay.

It’s normal to meet other people, but connecting with someone who will significantly impact your life is a blessing. Use this prompt to discuss that particular person, such as a parent, close friend, or romantic partner. Share who they are and how you met them, and discuss what they did or said that made a big difference in your life. 

Movies like “The Truman Show” help change your viewpoint in life. They open our minds and provide ideas for dealing with our struggles. Share how you reached an epiphany by reading a book or watching a movie. Include if it’s because of a particular dialogue, character action, or scenes you can relate to.

While others use inspirational quotes for comfort and to avoid negative thinking, some find a quote that gives them the courage to make drastic changes to better their lives. For this prompt, search for well-known personalities who discovered a quote that motivated them to turn their life around.  Essay Tip: When editing for grammar, we also recommend spending time and effort to improve the readability score of your essay before publishing or submitting it.

The Day I decided to Change my Life

Since my very formative years, the one dominant emotion which governed my choices, my decisions, and my actions in life had been fear of consequences. After the untimely demise of my father in our childhood, our mother clutched me and my elder brother close to her bosom, much like the proverbial Mother Hen. Though she filled our lives with laughter, cheer and loads of warmth, yet the underlying fear of losing us that dwelt in her heart resonated in our beings. Even when she was not around, her apprehensions kept us in tight rein disallowing us to try anything venturesome, for the longest time.

So assured we were of the gravitas of the safety net around us that it took that it took a really long time into our adult years before my brother and I could come to the realization that the fear she had so unknowingly transmitted  in us, were not always perhaps for our own good.

Getting a constant A+ in academics, doing my management and masters in languages, all my life, career and marriage choices were governed by this underlying fear which put a spanner in attempting anything that could be perceived as venturesome.

But life sure has its own way of off-putting the best laid plans. My carefully planned, meticulously deliberated arranged marriage floundered under unforeseen circumstances. Suddenly I was faced with the prospect of a very uncertain future despite my mother’s best intentions. I became conscious of the fact that no matter how strong my mother’s instincts were of trying to keep us safe, life came with no set terms and conditions and one had to accept each day as it came, with sun or with rain. Hence onwards I would be the only one responsible to steer my ship in terrains known or unknown and will be responsible for the good and the bad that came along with,in the way.

The veil of fear was uplifted, the stepping out from the safety net realized and in the next few years I tried to take up as many challenges as life kept on throwing at me. Moving to a different city all on my own, affecting a major career change from corporate to academics, plunging in the deep blue waters of the pool to learn swimming, learning to balance myself on the precarious two wheels of a bike, successfully managing to drive a car,navigating the life’s nitty- gritties, single-handedly, everything which I had assumed will be impossible to achieve I attempted andI did.

Once the shadow of fear was lifted, no fear seemed too large, no challenge seemed too daunting, no day seemed too dreary, no cloud seemed too bleak. Life was about being up and moving.

What about my mother, then? After casting aside the first few niggling doubts and rolling of eyes, she now seems to have joined the club. She is my staunchest supporter, my best promoter and my anytime, on call friend.

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The day I decided to change my life

Every morning I woke up sad and demotivated. There were some days that went by okay, where I felt all energized and motivated but that high lasted for a very short time. I would find myself returning to the same circle of negativity and bad energy . I realized things could not go on longer like this. What had I become? When I looked in the mirror, I would criticize myself and put myself down further. The day I decided to change my life, is when everything changed for the better.

What exactly happened the day I decided to change my life

You know how they say, we meet people for a reason. Some people come into your life to teach you a lesson. I think a similar thing happened to me. I met this girl in my new class, we will call her A for the sake of this story. When I first met her, I did not think much of it. We exchanged a few words and went our separate ways. It was only a few weeks later that I began to see how different she was.

A had an aura about her, that made her so different from everyone else. It was like she was always happy and content with life, no matter what the situation was. She would always find the silver lining in every cloud. Whenever I saw her, it felt like a breath of fresh air. I wanted to be around her more and get to know her better.

Eventually, we became good friends and I started to open up to her about my life and my struggles. She listened patiently and offered words of wisdom and encouragement. One fine day to me she revealed that she had cancer and didn’t have much time left.

It was then that I realized that a person’s time is limited on this earth and we should make the most of it. We should not take life for granted. From that day onwards, I decided to change my life for the better.

5 Powerful steps I took to change my life

I knew that if I wanted to change my life, I had to start making some changes in my lifestyle and mindset. I had recognized that I might not be able to change the final outcome of things, but at least my perception of things.

Identify and accept your problems

For the longest time, I knew what I had to change, but wasn’t willing to accept it. I was in denial. This is one of the first and most difficult steps. You have to be honest with yourself and accept that there are some things you need to change about your life if you want to be happy.

I for the longest time knew I was an overthinker and had a lot of negative energy. I however refused to accept that I had to work on this. Life continued and my pattern of negative thinking became worse.

I then realized that I had to accept myself with this flaw and work towards improving myself. Only when I accepted my problem, could I start taking steps to change my life.

Let go of what is holding you back

This step is closely related to the first one. Once you have identified your problems, it is important that you let go of whatever is holding you back. This might be a person, a job, an attitude, or anything else that might be causing you pain or preventing you from reaching your full potential.

I had to let go of my negative mindset and the people who brought me down. I had to let go of my comfort zone and start putting myself out there. I had to take risks and trust that things would work out for the best.

Making these changes was not easy, but it was necessary if I wanted to change my life.

Take some time to focus on yourself

They often say self-love is selfish , but honestly, it is the most important thing you can do for yourself. If you don’t love and care for yourself, nobody else will. You need to put yourself first and make sure that you are happy and healthy.

This might mean taking some time out for yourself, doing things you enjoy, eating healthy, and working out. It might also mean setting some boundaries in your relationships. You need to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of and that your relationships are healthy and positive.

Changing my life meant I had to start focusing on myself and my happiness. I needed to put myself first for once and make sure that I was taking care of myself.

Practice Gratitude

This is one of the most important steps I took to change my life. I had realized some patterns which I would follow. One of them was constant complaining. It would start of and end of with me being ungrateful. I would compare myself to others and call my life unfair.

It was when I saw A that I realized that I was so ungrateful. God had blessed me with so many things and I was thankless.

Therefore I started practicing gratitude on a daily basis. Initially, it was hard, but I stuck to a 30-Day Gratitude Challenge and that helped me develop the habit.

Now I make sure I am thankful every day and night for all that I am blessed with.

It is so easy to get caught up in our own problems and forget about all the good things we have in our lives. The best advice I could give is to make sure to take some time to think about all the things you are grateful for.

Start Journaling

As individuals, we have a lot going on in life. We need to make sure we have a healthy outlet to vent all our thoughts and feelings. This is where journaling comes in. It is important to have a safe space where you can let it all out without being judged.

I started journaling as a way to vent my frustrations and anger. But I soon realized that it was so much more than that. It was a way to get to know myself better and understand my thought process. It was also a great way to track my progress and see how far I had come.

If you are looking for a way to change your life, I would highly recommend starting a journal. It has helped me in so many ways and I am sure it can help you too.

Remember it is okay to get help

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that it is okay to get help. I used to be afraid to see a therapist, I felt they would point out all the flaws I had. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to face the reality.

I realized that I was wrong when I actually went to see one. They didn’t judge me, they just helped me understand myself better and work through my issues.

If you are struggling to change your life, don’t be afraid to get help from a professional. It can make all the difference.

If you don’t want to reach out to a therapist. You can join a support group or talk to a friend who will listen.

I used to be so independent and prideful that I would never reach out for help. But I soon realized that this was only holding me back. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. It shows that you are willing to do whatever it takes to change your life.

Choose to change your life today and see the difference

So there you have it, the steps I took to change my life. These are not easy changes to make, but they are definitely worth it. If you are feeling stuck or unhappy with your life, I hope this article has inspired you to make some positive changes. Remember, you are the only one who can change your life, so choose to do it.

Buy our 30 Day Positivity workbook – For a better and more positive life

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