a life changing decision essay

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.

IMAGE	PRODUCT
	Grammarly
	ProWritingAid

“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 .

Essays about life-changing experiences: The Experience That Changed My Life

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.

Essays about life-changing experiences: A Life-changing Quote

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.

I asked hundreds of people about their biggest life decisions. Here’s what I learned

Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Technology Sydney

Disclosure statement

Adrian R. Camilleri does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Technology Sydney provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

You make decisions all the time. Most are small. However, some are really big : they have ramifications for years or even decades. In your final moments, you might well think back on these decisions — and some you may regret.

Part of what makes big decisions so significant is how rare they are. You don’t get an opportunity to learn from your mistakes. If you want to make big decisions you won’t regret, it’s important you learn from others who have been there before.

There is a good deal of existing research into what people regret in their lives. In my current project, I decided to approach the problem from the other end and ask people about their life’s biggest decisions.

What are life’s biggest decisions?

I have spent most of my career studying what you might call small decisions: what product to buy , which portfolio to invest in , and who to hire . But none of this research was very helpful when, a few years ago, I found myself having to make some big life decisions.

To better understand what life’s biggest decisions are, I recruited 657 Americans aged between 20 and 80 years old to tell me about the ten biggest decisions in their lives so far.

Each decision was classified into one of nine categories and 58 subcategories. At the end of the survey, respondents ranked the ten decisions from biggest to smallest. You can take the survey yourself here . (If you do, your answers may help develop my research further.)

The following chart shows each of the 58 decision subcategories in terms of how often it was mentioned (along the horizontal axis) and how big the decision was considered in retrospect (along the vertical axis).

In the upper right of the chart we see decisions that are both very significant and very common. Getting married and having a child stand out clearly here.

Other fairly common big life decisions include starting a new job and pursuing a degree. Less common, but among the highest ranked life decisions, include ending a life – such as that of an unborn child or a dying parent – and engaging in self-harm.

Of course, the results depend on who you ask. Men in their 70s have different answers than women in their 30s. To explore this data more deeply, I’ve built a tool that allows you to filter these results down to specific types of respondents.

Read more: How to help take control of your brain and make better decisions

What are life’s biggest regrets?

Much can also be learned about how to make good life decisions by asking people what their biggest regrets are. Regret is a negative emotion you feel when reflecting on past decisions and wishing you had done something differently.

In 2012, Australian caregiver Bronnie Ware wrote a book about her experiences in palliative care. There were five regrets that dying people told her about most often:

I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings
I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends
I wish I had let myself be happier.

This anecdotal evidence has received support from more rigorous academic research. For example, a 2011 study asked a nationally representative sample of 270 Americans to describe one significant life regret. The six most commonly reported regrets involved romance (19.3%), family (16.9%), education (14.0%), career (13.8%), finance (9.9%), and parenting (9.0%).

Although lost loves and unfulfilling relationships were the most common regrets, there was an interesting gender difference. For women, regrets about love (romance/family) were more common than regrets about work (career/education), while the reverse was true for men.

What causes regret?

Several factors increase the chances you will feel regret.

In the long run it is inaction — deciding not to pursue something — that generates more regret . This is particularly true for males, especially when it comes to romantic relationships . If only I had asked her out, we might now be happily married.

Poor decisions produce greater regret when it is harder to justify those decisions in retrospect. I really value my friends and family so why did I leave them all behind to take up that overseas job?

Given that we are social beings, poor decisions in domains relevant to our sense of social belonging — such as romantic and family contexts — are more often regretted . Why did I break up my family by having a fling?

Regrets tend to be strongest for lost opportunities : that is, when undesirable outcomes that could have been prevented in the past can no longer be affected. I could have had a better relationship with my daughter if I had been there more often when she was growing up.

The most enduring regrets in life result from decisions that move you further from the ideal person that you want to be . I wanted to be a role model but I couldn’t put the wine bottle down.

Making big life decisions without regrets

These findings provide valuable lessons for those with big life decisions ahead, which is nearly everyone. You’re likely to have to keep making big decisions over the whole course of your life.

The most important decisions in life relate to family and friends. Spend the time getting these decisions right and then don’t let other distractions — particularly those at work — undermine these relationships.

Seize opportunities. You can apologise or change course later but you can’t time travel. Your education and experience can never be lost.

Read more: Running the risk: why experience matters when making decisions

Avoid making decisions that violate your personal values and move you away from your aspirational self. If you have good justifications for a decision now, no matter what happens, you’ll at least not regret it later.

I continue to ask people to tell me about their biggest life decisions. It’s a great way to learn about someone. Once I have collected enough stories, I hope to write a book so that we can all learn from the collective wisdom of those who have been there before.

Decision making

Admissions Officer

Director of STEM

Community member - Training Delivery and Development Committee (Volunteer part-time)

Chief Executive Officer

Head of Evidence to Action

Entertainment
Environment
Information Science and Technology
Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life Life Changing Experience

The Moment That Changed Everything: an Unpredictable Nature of Life

Table of contents, the unpredictability of life, the power of revelation, the domino effect of change, the lessons we carry forward, the journey forward.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

Bucket List
Fear of Failure

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Analysis of Family and Person Life Cycle Words: 1574
Stressful Events’ Impact on People’s Lives Words: 1388
Major Life Events: Starting College Words: 861
How Italian Culture Influenced Life: Personal Experience Words: 812
Meaningfulness and Meaningless of Life Words: 921
Family Life and Structure in the UK Words: 1790
Support in Significant Life Event Words: 2798
The “Value Life as It Is” Manifesto Words: 926
The Need for Personal Life Philosophy Words: 909
From U.S. to Africa: Personal Experience. Words: 643
Family of Six Life Crisis Case Study Words: 1196
Marriage in Family Life and Government Policies Words: 1159
Importance of Work-Life Balance Words: 1380
Life Before the Internet Versus After the Internet Words: 659

Life Changing Events: Personal Experience

If you are about to write a short narrative essay about something that changed your life forever, you’ve come to the right place! Check out our “childhood experience that changed my life” essay sample to get some ideas and inspiration for your paper.

Life Changing Event: Essay Introduction

Life changing experience: essay main body, life changing event: essay conclusion.

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. 

Relationships, especially with family members, are the most important aspects of handling change. I have experienced life-changing events that turned me into a better person.

One such event occurred in my childhood, while the other occurred in adolescence. In both cases, my family was there to support and help me go through the tough times. Looking back at the influence of these events, I am always glad that my family was with me in overcoming the challenges. I am a better person because my family stood beside me and gave me strength and support in moments of weakness and helplessness.

The first event that had a remarkable impact on my life was the loss of a dear friend. This event changed my world and made me a better person. It taught me how to appreciate friends, family, and relationships. In childhood, I had a cousin who was my best friend.

Our friendship was so deep that we usually spent holidays and weekends visiting each other’s families. To my family, she was like one of the members. I was like one of her family members, too. We used to spend a lot of time together, playing, studying, traveling, and doing many other fun activities.

One day, while returning home from school, she got knocked down by a motorcyclist speeding off, trying to escape from a police officer. She was hit from behind and knocked her head on a large stone on the side of the road upon landing on the ground. When I received the news of the accident, I was devastated.

The morning after the accident, I visited her in the hospital and received the sad news that she was in a coma after suffering severe brain damage. I lost my appetite, could not sleep for weeks, and spent several nights crying and wishing she would be fine. She was in the hospital for six months. During that period, I became stressed and lost weight.

I missed school for many days, thus affecting my academics. Even though my family was also affected, the effect was greater on me because of our long-time friendship. Every day I woke up expecting to hear good news from my parents of her miraculous recovery, but that did not happen. As I became more depressed, I started to avoid social gatherings and experienced difficulty sleeping.

One morning, just after breakfast, we received news that she had passed away. At that moment, a hot flush of blood flowed into my head, and I fainted. The long period of endless waiting had come to an end. That morning was one of the lowest moments. I was rushed to the hospital, and the doctors said I had collapsed due to sudden shock. The grieving period was excruciating.

However, my family stood by me and offered consolation. My family members provided emotional and physical support and helped me overcome the incident. The event had severe emotional effects. My mum spent most of her time comforting me. I could cope with the situation because my family understood what I was going through, were patient, listened to me, and offered psychological help.

My parents were not angry at me for missing school. They allowed me to stay home until I was ready to go back. It took four months of grieving to get over the death of my cousin and best friend. This incident changed my life and brought me closer to my family. I now appreciate relationships and more. As a result, I am more loving, caring, compassionate, and appreciative of the people in my life.

The other defining moment that changed me involved a disagreement with my parents regarding joining high school. When the time came for me to enter high school, I was not prepared and wanted to stay home for a year before joining. My parents were concerned that I would lose a year of schooling since, at my age, I was not ready for a job. They feared I would have nothing to do for an entire year.

The reasons for delaying my entry to high school were fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. I was not ready to enter a stage of life where I was expected to be responsible for my life and actions. I refused to talk to my parents and other family members because I felt that they were imposing their principles on me. The truth is that I was afraid to enter a phase that would require me to be responsible for my decisions and actions.

I avoided my parents and always ensured they never got a chance to question me. My decision changed when my dad confronted me. Our discussion focused on the reasons that were informing my decision. At first, I was unwilling to tell my dad the truth, but as the debate progressed, I had no choice but to open up to him. I was afraid that he would be disappointed with me.

However, he assured me that it was normal to experience fear and anxiety, especially when making a life-changing decision. He narrated a story about how he had reacted the same way when his dad asked him to move out of their family house to find a place to live after joining college. Throughout the entire experience, my family was very understanding.

They helped me to overcome the fear and anxiety of embracing responsibilities. That incident changed my life, attitudes, and perspectives regarding life. My family has always supported me during tough times. That incident improved my relationship with my family and introduced me to adulthood. Whenever I face a challenge, I discuss it openly with my family because of the awareness that they are always ready and willing to listen and offer assistance. 

My elder brother introduced me to high school life and offered numerous tips on adjusting to the new environment. My family is my greatest source of joy and happiness. This incident taught me responsibility, trust, humility, and the importance of family. The aforementioned events changed my life tremendously because they played a crucial role in molding me into a responsible, caring, and compassionate person.

Cite this paper

Chicago (N-B)
Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2020, January 8). Life Changing Events: Personal Experience. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/

"Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." StudyCorgi , 8 Jan. 2020, studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

StudyCorgi . (2020) 'Life Changing Events: Personal Experience'. 8 January.

1. StudyCorgi . "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

StudyCorgi . 2020. "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

This paper, “Life Changing Events: Personal Experience”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: November 8, 2023 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

Essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life

Introduction.

One day, I woke up and decided to change my life. It was a regular day, but I felt different.

Realization

I realized I wasn’t happy with my lifestyle. I was eating unhealthy, not exercising, and spending too much time on screens.

I decided to eat healthier, exercise daily, and limit my screen time. I knew it would be hard, but I was determined.

The change was tough initially, but I started feeling better, both physically and mentally.

250 Words Essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life

The awakening.

The day I decided to change my life was an ordinary day, indistinguishable from the rest. However, the ordinary was about to become extraordinary. I was sitting in my office, buried in a pile of paperwork, my spirit slowly being crushed under the monotony of routine.

The Epiphany

In the midst of this routine, a realization dawned upon me. I was not living; I was merely existing. This realization was a spark that ignited a desire for change. I decided I wanted to live a life of purpose, not just go through the motions.

The Decision

I decided to take control of my life. This decision was not a sudden impulse but a well-thought-out plan. I made a list of things I wanted to change: my job, my lifestyle, my mindset. I decided to pursue my passion for writing, to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and to cultivate a positive mindset.

The Journey

The journey was not easy. There were numerous obstacles and setbacks. However, every time I fell, I picked myself up and continued. I discovered an inner strength and resilience I never knew I had.

The Transformation

The day I decided to change my life was the day I truly started living. I discovered my passion, my purpose. I became a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled individual. This transformation was not just about changing my circumstances, but about changing my perspective.

500 Words Essay on The Day I Decided to Change My Life

Introduction: the catalyst for change.

Life, in its vast complexity, is a journey of continuous transformation. The day I decided to change my life was not marked by a grand event, but by an epiphany that emerged from the mundane, revealing profound truths about my existence.

Awakening: The Realization

The day began like any other, ensnared in the relentless grind of routine. I was a student, juggling a part-time job, college assignments, and a social life. As I sat down to complete an assignment, I realized I was merely existing, not living. I was caught in the web of societal expectations, disconnected from my passions and dreams. This realization was a harsh wake-up call, a mirror reflecting the life I had been leading, devoid of personal fulfillment.

The Decision: Embracing Change

Defining the path: identifying the changes.

The first step was identifying the changes I needed to make. I wanted to pursue my passion for writing, which had long been relegated to the background. I yearned for a healthier lifestyle, both physically and mentally. I also sought to build stronger relationships, moving beyond superficial connections to foster deep, meaningful bonds.

Implementation: Walking the Path

The implementation stage was challenging. I started small, dedicating an hour each day to writing. I began exercising regularly and meditating to cultivate mental peace. I reached out to friends and family, investing time and energy in nurturing those relationships. There were setbacks, but each failure served as a stepping stone, propelling me further along my path of transformation.

Reflection: The Journey Thus Far

Conclusion: the continuity of change.

The day I decided to change my life was the beginning of a journey, not a destination. Change is a continuous process, an ongoing journey of self-improvement and growth. My story is not unique; it is a testament to the power of personal transformation, a narrative that resonates with anyone seeking to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. In the end, the decision to change is a personal one, a commitment to oneself, and a journey worth undertaking.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

Life Changing Experience - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

A life changing experience is an event or circumstance that alters a person’s perspective, behavior, and/or values in a significant way. This can be a positive or negative experience that leads to personal growth, enlightenment, and a renewed understanding of the world around them. Such experiences often challenge one’s preconceptions and force them to reflect on their beliefs and the direction of their life. They can include major successes or failures, personal achievements or losses, moments of extreme joy or sadness, and encounters with people or places that fundamentally change who we are. These events can be transformative and formative, often changing the trajectory of a person’s life.

📘 Free essay examples for your ideas about Life Changing Experience
🏆 Best Essay Topics on Life Changing Experience
⚡ Simple & Life Changing Experience Easy Topics
🎓 Good Research Topics about Life Changing Experience
❓ Questions and Answers

Essay examples

Essay topic.

Save to my list

Remove from my list

A Life Changing Experience
A life-changing event in my life
A Life Changing Experience With My Favourite Teacher From NMU
Life Changing Moment
A Life Changing Story
A Life-Changing Experience During the Holiday Season
A Story of Life Changing Experiences in a Young Man’s Life Free Essay Example
Life changing fire
A Backstage Life Changing Experience Free Essay Example
An experience that changed my life
Accurate And Perfect Decision Free Essay Example
Life-Changing Decision
The Renaissance: The ‘Rebirth’ of Science & Culture Free Essay Example
Lessons Learned: What Life Experience Teaches Us
The Contribution of Life Experiences in Redirecting My Path Overcoming Obstacles Free Essay Example
The Significance of Advertising for the Society Free Essay Example
New Country New Life Experience
Hard Life When Growing Up
My life experience
Positve and negative effects of life events
The Bad Moment of My Life
Life is a Gift
Life Changing Desicion Narrative
Teenage Years Are Best Years in One’s Life
My life story
Life Experience With God
The Value of Life and The Human Experience
Life Goes On
The Saddest Day of My Life
The most meaninful experience of my life

FAQ about Life Changing Experience

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

SUGGESTED TOPICS
The Magazine
Newsletters
Managing Yourself
Managing Teams
Work-life Balance
The Big Idea
Data & Visuals
Reading Lists
Case Selections
HBR Learning
Topic Feeds
Account Settings
Email Preferences

When a Major Life Change Upends Your Sense of Self

Madeline Toubiana,
Trish Ruebottom,
Luciana Turchick Hakak

Five research-backed strategies to help you embrace a new identity and move forward with confidence.

Whether we like it or not, change is a fact of life. Unfortunately, especially when a major change feels like it’s been forced on us, it can be easy to fall into identity paralysis: a feeling of stuck-ness in which your sense of self fails to keep up with your new role or situation. The authors conducted hundreds of interviews with people who had gone through various kinds of positive or negative identity shifts to explore why people experience identity paralysis and what can help to overcome it. Based on this research, they offer five tactical strategies to help anyone let go of the past, embrace a new identity, and move forward on a path towards growth.

Human beings have a complicated relationship with change. While it is both inevitable and essential for growth, change can also be deeply uncomfortable — especially if it feels involuntary, or out of our control.

MT Madeline Toubiana is an associate professor and the Desmarais Chair in Entrepreneurship at Telfer School of Management at University of Ottawa. Her research program focuses on what stalls and supports social change. More specifically, she examines the role of emotions, entrepreneurship, institutional processes, and stigmatization in influencing the dynamics of social change.
TR Trish Ruebottom is an associate professor at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of social innovation and organization, specifically exploring the ways we organize to create social change. Her recent work examines the role of entrepreneurship in stigmatized industries.
LH Luciana Turchick Hakak is an assistant professor at the School of Business of the University of the Fraser Valley. Her research interests lie in the distinct but often complementary fields of diversity in the workplace, work-related identity, and stigmatized work, and she has specifically investigated these issues in the context of how immigrants fare in new work environments.

Partner Center

Skip to main content
Skip to secondary menu
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

An Experience That Changed My Life Essay | Life Changing Experiences, Long and Short Essays on Life Changing Experiences

October 1, 2021 by Prasanna

Experience That Changed My Life Essay: It is rightly said that ‘Experience is the best teacher.’ Experience teaches a lot more things. Life gives you many experiences and certain experiences in your life can impact you a lot. In life we all have faced some or the other experience that has changed the way we perceive things. Through these life lessons we can learn a lot about ourselves and how strong we can be in difficult situations and circumstances.

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long Essay on Experience that Changed My Life 500 Words in English

Sometimes things are out of our control and we can’t do anything about it. 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. Change is a part of life. Life gives many experiences almost every day.

An experience that changed my life was on 21st August 2004. One of my biggest life changing experiences was the time when I lost my father suddenly. Till that very day I was a very immature and jolly person. I don’t know what the worries were. I was the eldest one in my family. But as we lost the head of our family life took a new turning point in my life I had to take charge of all the decisions made which I had never done before. My mother was not in a state to understand anything. I started making big decisions even about finances, about our house and many more.

When my father died, my life had changed completely. I lost him in my own lap. He took his last breath and it was very heartbreaking. Accepting his loss was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do. It was very hard because it was unpredictable. I let all my emotions out, because I had to remember to take care of myself and my family too. Now it was the time for me to be more responsible.

His death made me an introvert, more responsible, think for myself and my family, and see things differently. Now that he is gone, I have to take charge of many things. My father was my counselor, my friend, my guidance, and most of all my motivator. I feel completely lonely without him.

I also experienced how people were falsely claiming that he is a family member of theirs and they will take care of me and my family, but two weeks after the cremation they were the same as before with no sympathy. I finally got a glimpse of the real world who are my real well wishers and who are not. Looking back at all of this I realized how important my father was to me. Now I am a more focused and responsible person. I still feel my father lives through me. Even though my father is gone he still guides me at each and every point of life. His death made me an introvert, think for myself and my family, and live life practically. I wish I could thank him for making me a better person. It was his inspirations which made me handle things in a proper way.

Short Essay on Experience that Changed My Life

According to me, experiences are very important to forge our personality over time. From very childhood I grew up in a nurturing and loving environment where I always felt safe and loved. My parents always made me feel important. I was a stubborn child. I used to throw tantrums if things didn’t go my way. I was a very demanding child as well, though my mother loved me unconditionally. My mother was very patient and compassionate and used to explain things so well to make me understand why things couldn’t always be how I wanted them to be. But as a child I never wanted to understand her preachings. But then once on a school trip to an orphanage totally changed my view towards life.

Orphanage is the place where the orphans (children who are homeless having no parents) are taken care of.

Once when I was in Grade 4 our school planned an educational trip to an orphanage institute.We were asked to bring whatever we wanted to donate. My mother gave me some of my old toys, clothes and some sweets. We collected a good amount of material to distribute.

As we entered the orphanage all the kids gathered in a hall. There were children of all ages. They strayed at us with eyes full of hope. We were asked to distribute the things and spent some time with them. They were so excited to receive these old things. In conversation with them we came to know that they have only two to three dresses to wear. One plate and a bowl for their food. Even the food served to them was always the same and limited. They don’t have many varieties of food to eat. They have toys in common to play with. These children don’t know the meaning of love, care and affection. They cannot demand for anything. The plight of every child was so miserable.I realised all my mistakes. I realised fortunate I am to receive all the luxury.

I never liked it when my parents reprimanded me for not studying properly, when I made blunders, when I didn’t listen to them but there was a concern behind every word that they said. They took care of me at every juncture of my lives no matter what their condition.

But I felt so sorry for these children because they are lacking all those words of care, anger, and love.

Visiting the orphanage is a life changing experience for me. From that day I started appreciating the little things in life. I never demanded for unexpected things. I feel like helping every needy person.

I also started understanding my mother’s preachings and with her help, over time, I learned how to deal with my emotions and situations and these experiences shaped my behavior and personality.

I feel extremely fortunate that I have parents with me and they provide me all the luxury. I am thankful to them.

Picture Dictionary
English Speech
English Slogans
English Letter Writing
English Essay Writing
English Textbook Answers
Types of Certificates
ICSE Solutions
Selina ICSE Solutions
ML Aggarwal Solutions
HSSLive Plus One
HSSLive Plus Two
Kerala SSLC
Distance Education

Life Potential

7 ways to make critical life decisions and choices.

If you’re unhappy with the results in your life right now, making the effort to change your decisions starting today will be the key to creating the person you want to be and the life you want to have in the future.

Most people don’t know the profound effects of making life choices. Often, we go through life oblivious to what thoughts we are thinking and what actions we are taking. Every single decision we make shapes our current reality. It shapes who we are because we habitually follow through with the decisions we make without even realizing it.

Of course, changing your decisions is no easy feat. It takes an immense amount of effort, courage, and dedication. But if you don’t do this, you may end up living a life you don’t even like.

Now, let’s talk about the 7 ways you can go about making life-changing decisions.

My Life Choices: 7 Ways To Help Make Critical Decisions

Let’s talk about the 7 ways you can go about making life-changing decisions.

1. Realize the Power of Decision Making

Before you start deciding and wondering what your life choices are, you must understand what a decision does.

All life decisions that you make cause a chain of events. When you decide to pick up a cigarette to smoke it, that decision might result in you picking up another one later. After a day, you may have gone through a pack without knowing it. But if you decide not to smoke that first cigarette and decide every five minutes to focus your attention somewhere else when you get that craving, your cravings will eventually subside, and you will become smoke-free.

It comes down to making that very first decision of deciding whether or not to pick up that cigarette.

Each decision you make in life is linked to certain individual factors, such as personality, anxiety, and level of stress. [1] Be aware of your current situation to help make a choice when you feel yourself leaning into a habit.

2. Go With Your Gut

Oftentimes, we take too much time to make a decision because we’re afraid of what’s going to happen. As a result of this, we go through things like careful planning , deep analysis, and pros and cons before deciding. This is a very time-consuming process.

Instead, learn to trust your gut instinct . For the most part, your first instinct is usually the correct one or the one you truly want to go with.

Your gut instinct is a form of information processing, and scientists call it the “predictive processing framework.” This helps prepare the brain to deal with your situation the best way possible. [2]

Even if you end up making a mistake, going with your gut still makes you a more confident decision-maker compared to someone who takes all day to decide.

3. Carry Your Decision Out

What’s considered a real decision? It’s when you decide on something, which is carried out through action. It’s pointless to make a decision and have it play out in your head that has no follow through. That’s the same as not making a decision at all.

If you want to make real changes in life, you have to make it a habit to apply action to your decision until it’s completed. By going through this so many times, you will feel more confident with accomplishing the next decision that you have in mind.

4. Tell Others About Your Decisions

There’s something about telling other people what we’re going to do that makes us follow through.

Research proves that you are more likely to meet goals if you share them with people, especially those with a “higher status” than you. [3]

For example, for the longest time, I’ve been trying to become an early riser. Whenever I tried to use my willpower, waking up early without falling back asleep felt impossible. So what I did was I went to a forum and made the decision to tell people that I would wake up at 6 AM and stay up . Within two days, I accomplished this because I felt a moral obligation to follow through with my words even though I failed the first time.

Did people care? Probably not, but just the fact that there might be someone else out there seeing if you’re telling the truth will give you enough motivation to follow through with your decision.

5. Learn From Your Past Decisions

Even after I failed to follow through with my decision the first time I told people, I didn’t give up. I asked myself, “What can I do this time to make it work tomorrow?”

The truth is, you are going to mess up at times when it comes to making decisions. Instead of beating yourself up over it, learn something from it.

Ask yourself, what was good about the decision I made?
What was bad about it?
What can I learn from it to make a better decision next time?

Remember, don’t put so much emphasis on short-term effects; instead, focus on the long-term effects.

6. Maintain a Flexible Approach

I know this might sound counter-intuitive, but making a decision doesn’t mean you can’t be open to other options.

One of the major reasons why people don’t achieve their goals is because the ones they set are unattainable. [4]

As much as you can, be objective. If you realize a goal is unattainable, change it to something more realistic.

For example, let’s say you decided to lose ten pounds by next month through cardio. If something comes up, you don’t have to just do cardio. You can be open to losing weight through different methods of dieting as long as it helps you reach your goal in the end.

Don’t be stubborn to seek out only one way of making a decision. Embrace any new knowledge that brings you closer to accomplishing your initial decision.

7. Have Fun Making Decisions

Finally, enjoy the process every time you make a choice. I know decision-making might not be the most fun thing to do, but when you do it often, it becomes a game of opportunity.

You’ll learn a lot about yourself, and you’ll become more confident in yourself and when around others. Anything you decide to do from this point on can have a profound effect later on. Opportunities are always waiting for you. Examine the decisions that you currently have in the day.

Bonus: 4 Reminders In Making Life Choices

Learning how to make a big decision is no easy feat. Here are bonus tips to keep in mind when making life choices with confidence.

1. Take the Time to Reflect

Once in a while, wherever you are in life, take the time to either sit with pen and paper or be alone on a walk or somewhere quiet and ask yourself some questions.

Leonardo da Vinci reportedly would ask himself hundreds of questions. He would not necessarily answer his questions but pose them for consideration. The artist’s thinking can be dubbed interdisciplinary. This means that it is grounded in many aspects. [5]

This technique allows you to get past the initial surface thoughts to access the deep-rooted ideas that are causing the issues/obstacles and beliefs that are holding you back.

Ask yourself questions like these:

What do I love about my job?
What makes my life choices so important?
What do I love about my life?
Do I love living here?
Do I feel like I make enough time for myself, and what do I like to do with my time?
If I was to write down the emotions I experience each week, would I describe them as mostly positive, mostly negative, or a balance of both? What impacts that?
How do I respond to criticism?
Am I good at telling people what I think?
What do I feel holds me back?
What would I love to achieve but fear doing and why do I feel I fear it?

The more questions you can ask, the better. Remember, this is not about knowing the answers or answering according to what you know or trust you can do, so be honest with yourself.

2. Challenge Your Own Beliefs

Challenge yourself to ask if your beliefs serve you well or hinder your success and happiness.

Are your beliefs keeping you in a comfort zone, so you don’t have to face what you fear? Or do your beliefs challenge you to go for things even if you fear them a little?

Challenging beliefs help you to see, acknowledge and accept what your beliefs are doing to you. Once you can see, acknowledge, and accept your beliefs and their impact, you will be in a position to take responsibility for them and change. You can’t change permanently until you go through this process.

This will lead you to another very important reminder for us all. You are allowed to change paths.

If you liked being a teacher or a graphic designer and now want to be a police officer or a journalist, that’s fine. It is scary to make changes and choose a different path but to help you do this, remember this question: If I agree to stay like this, then what am I agreeing to?

You don’t need to know how you will achieve it, but you need to know you want to do it.

3. Accept Disagreements

If you think you are confident to be yourself and share what you think, post an unpopular opinion on social media (not an offensive, derogatory comment, just something you don’t like.) I did this recently (I’m happy to connect so that when you give this a go, you can tag me), and asked people to share their unpopular opinions.

Nothing heavy.

I just posted that I don’t like a certain cooking programme that airs here in the UK – The Great British Bake Off . I just don’t get why you’d watch a bunch of people mixing up ingredients to make a cake and then watch three hyper-critical judges tell you your cake has a soggy bottom. While my post had lots of likes, laughs, and loves, not even a quarter of people that liked the post commented.

Within a week of that post, wherever I went, someone would say, “I saw that post, my unpopular view is…..” I asked all of these people, “Why didn’t you post your view on my post?” To which I heard replies like:

“I didn’t want to offend anyone.
“I can’t post like you do.”
“It’s not appropriate to do that.”
“It could damage my reputation.”
“You know what people are like.”

Headline news folks, saying you don’t like Christmas jumpers or Elvis is not against the law. While some may not agree with you, ultimately, nice humans accept that with billions of people on the planet, we aren’t going to agree on everything.

4. Look Forward

People need to spend less time looking back at what has happened and spend more time planning where they want to go.

For example, I created a long list of everything that could need to be done to set up Person A’s business, then we broke that down into a timeline to enable them to see their priorities.

So many people try to get to the end of a to-do list, not appreciating there will always be something new on the to-do list.

It’s not about clearing the to-do list, it’s about owning it. And to do that, you need to have a clearly defined plan. Consider everything you could do to make a decision or powerful life choice, and then narrow that down to the absolute priorities.

Do not deviate, and lastly, only ever have three to five actions on your to-do list. Clear them, and you can add the next three to five.

Person A didn’t just set up her own business, it went from her kitchen table to her own offices with staff within 2 years! Spend less time looking back and wondering and more time focusing on what you want and creating the plan to get you there.

Final Thoughts

Some decisions in life are harder to make, but with these 7 pieces of advice, you can trust yourself more even during the process. Making a decision is the only way to move forward. So remember, any decision is better than none at all.

Tips to Making Critical Life Decisions and Choices

Featured photo credit: Justin Luebke via unsplash.com

[1]	^	Springer Link:
[2]	^	Cambridge Core:
[3]	^	Ohio State News:
[4]	^	Harvard Business Review:
[5]	^	Scientific American:

How to Use a Planner Effectively

How to Be a Better Planner: Avoid the Planning Fallacy

5 Best Apps to Help You Delegate Tasks Easily

Delegating Leadership Style: What Is It & When To Use It?

The Fear of Delegating Work To Others

Why Is Delegation Important in Leadership?

7 Best Tools for Prioritizing Work

How to Deal with Competing Priorities Effectively

What Is the RICE Prioritization Model And How Does It Work?

4 Exercises to Improve Your Focus

What Is Chronic Procrastination and How To Deal with It

How to Snap Out of Procrastination With ADHD

Are Depression And Procrastination Connected?

Procrastination And Laziness: Their Differences & Connections

Bedtime Procrastination: Why You Do It And How To Break It

15 Books on Procrastination To Help You Start Taking Action

Productive Procrastination: Is It Good or Bad?

how does procrastination affect productivity

The Impact of Procrastination on Productivity

How to Cope With Anxiety-Induced Procrastination

How to Break the Perfectionism-Procrastination Loop

15 Work-Life Balance Books to Help You Take Control of Life

Work Life Balance for Women: What It Means & How to Find It

6 Essential Mindsets For Continuous Career Growth

How to Discover Your Next Career Move Amid the Great Resignation

The Key to Creating a Vibrant (And Magical Life) by Lee Cockerell

9 Tips on How To Disconnect From Work And Stay Present

Work-Life Integration vs Work-Life Balance: Is One Better Than the Other?

How To Practice Self-Advocacy in the Workplace (Go-to Guide)

How to Boost Your Focus And Attention Span

What Are Distractions in a Nutshell?

What Is Procrastination And How To End It

Prioritization — Using Your Time & Energy Effectively

Delegation — Leveraging Your Time & Resources

Your Guide to Effective Planning & Scheduling

The Ultimate Guide to Achieving Goals

How to Find Lasting Motivation

Complete Guide to Getting Back Your Energy

How to Have a Good Life Balance

Explore the time flow system.

About the Time Flow System

Key Philosophy I: Fluid Progress, Like Water

Key Philosophy II: Pragmatic Priorities

Key Philosophy III: Sustainable Momentum

Key Philosophy IV: Three Goal Focus

How the Time Flow System Works

Decision-Making

Making life-changing decisions, how to approach big life choices.

Posted January 23, 2017

Throughout our lives we constantly make big decisions that shape our future circumstances. And these decisions determine the sort of person we become; for example, whether to start a family, the choice of a major in college, or a career . These choices involve dramatically new experiences that we can know very little in advance. So how do you make big decisions?

The difficulty of the big choices is that you need to have the experience itself to know what it is really like. Becoming a parent is transformational. The experience of losing a loved one can be life changing. You would literally become a different person. That is, it can change your point of view and your personal preferences.

We often use personal simulation (imagining the experience) as a decision-making tool when general considerations are insufficient to determine the outcome of an option. When you consider buying a house, it is natural to imagine yourself living in the different possible homes you are considering in order to decide which one you would prefer to live in. You choose the option with the highest value for your money.

But life-changing choices (choosing a partner or to have a child) involve radically new experiences. Your priorities will change. The prospective parent doesn’t know what it’s like to have a child of her very own. You cannot know from your current personal perspective, what this experience will be like. So you cannot predict the value of the experience (option) that best reflects the preferences of your future self.

In her book “ Transformative Experience ,” L.A. Paul, a philosophy professor, argues that life is filled with big choices in which you end up changing who you are and what you desire. The decisions may change you into a different kind of person, a person who cares about things that are very different from what you care about now. Professor Paul points out that for the big decisions it’s not possible to make purely rational decisions. Because you have no idea what you are getting into. The big life choices teach us things we cannot know about from any source but the experience itself. And if we don’t undergo the experience, we won’t know what we are missing.

Professor Paul argues that the best approach is to choose based on whether you want to discover who you will become. Live life as a series of discoveries. The choice can be framed as a choice of whether to try something new solely for the sake of having the experience. That is, for the sake of the discovery it brings. For example, the relevant outcomes for the decision to have a child are discovering the experience of being a parent. The choice should not be based on whether the experience is enjoyable or unpleasant. You can’t know.

So we need to think differently about making big life choices. You can assign values to having new experiences for the sake of discovering who you will become. You decide based on whether you want to discover how your life will unfold given the new type of experience. The discovery comes from experience. Even if this entails a future that involves stress , suffering, or pain. You may also choose to keep the life that you know and retain your current preferences.

Shahram Heshmat, Ph.D., is an associate professor emeritus of health economics of addiction at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Find a Therapist
Find a Treatment Center
Find a Psychiatrist
Find a Support Group
Find Online Therapy
United States
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, DC
Asperger's
Bipolar Disorder
Chronic Pain
Eating Disorders
Passive Aggression
Personality
Goal Setting
Positive Psychology
Stopping Smoking
Low Sexual Desire
Relationships
Child Development
Self Tests NEW
Therapy Center
Diagnosis Dictionary
Types of Therapy

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.

Emotional Intelligence
Gaslighting
Affective Forecasting
Neuroscience

Home / Essay Samples / Life / Experience / Life Changing Experience

Life Changing Experience Essay Examples

The impact of our decisions on our life.

Many people think life is full of surprises, it is a mixture of happiness, sorrow and sadness making it impossible to predict. Whenever they face any unwanted results they blame their luck and unpredictability of life; not recognizing the mistakes they have made in the...

One Phrase Can Change Lives

Sometimes I wonder about the people on my street. How are they coping in their houses? Is it good, is it bad? What’s behind their door? I talk to many people about this fascination. My mum says it’s that I think too much about other...

Dear Diary - Examples of Personal Writing

Dear Diary, I have something terrible to tell you. Wait… I haven’t even introduced myself. Let me start over…. Dear Diary, My name is Anna and I have never written in a diary before, I saw dear diary examples how to start writing, but it...

My Life: a Challenging Experience that Changed Me

My life essay: a challenging experience that changed me. An Erie of quiet welcomed my kin and me as we went into my grandma's home one night. As we wandered further into the calm house, scanning each space for my grandma our guiltless interest covered...

We Need to Remember that Life is Short - Essay

You know that moment in life where you realize it’s time to grow up and put your big person pants on? Yeah, I had this realization early in my life. It was my summer right before my freshman year of high school, my Grandmother got...

Example of Narrative Paragraph About Life During the Pandemic

When your screen is your only port to the outside world, things become more challenging; when you can't go anywhere but at the same time, you can connect everything with your computer. However, you will lose the ability to express your thoughts and feelings, making...

The Goodness of Life: a Celebration of Meaning and Fulfillment

Life, with its myriad experiences and emotions, is a journey marked by moments of joy, challenges, and personal growth. The goodness of life emerges not solely from its external circumstances but from the values, relationships, and perspectives that infuse each day with purpose and meaning....

Personal Failure: Example of the Art of Failing Well

My own personal failure list? It's a long one. Fashion failures, to begin with. The polka-dotted overalls with the uneven trimming I crafted when I was 10? It made it seem as though a low budget circus came to my school, and caused my mom...

How Alzheimer's Disease Changed My Family's Life

Growing up, I witnessed the preliminary stages of Alzheimer’s with my mother’s father and how it became progressively worse. My grandfather developed easy temper episodes; he tended to forget current memories, he would ask who my mother is, and he also brought up older family...

Sharing Personal Story: How Paul Walker Changed My Life

Paul Walker was born on September 12, 1973, in California. “His mother was a fashion model while his father was a sewer contractor and a fighter”. Walker was raised in the Sunland in Los Angeles and went to high school at San Fernando Valley. After...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!