--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to…" description: "\"“It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to act releases energy in the personality. For days on end a person may drift along without much energy. Having..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/howard-thurman-11976_decision-making_it-s-a-wondrous-thing-that-a-decision-to_548899.jpg" --- # It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to act releases… ![“It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to act releases energy in the personality. For days on end a person may drift along without much energy. Having no particular sense of direction and having no will to change. Then, something happens to alter the pattern. It may be something very simple and…” quote by Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/howard-thurman-11976_decision-making_it-s-a-wondrous-thing-that-a-decision-to_548899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/howard-thurman-11976_decision-making_it-s-a-wondrous-thing-that-a-decision-to_548899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/howard-thurman-11976_decision-making_it-s-a-wondrous-thing-that-a-decision-to_548899.jpg) > ““It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to act releases energy in the personality. For days on end a person may drift along without much energy. Having no particular sense of direction and having no will to change. Then, something happens to alter the pattern. It may be something very simple and inconsequential in itself. But it stabs awake, it alarms, it disturbs. In a flash, one gets a vivid picture of oneself, and it passes. The result is decision. Sharp, defenitive decision. In the wake of the decision, yes, even as a part of the decision itself, energy is released. The act of decision sweeps all before it, and the life of the individual maybe changed forever.”” [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A decisive act releases latent energy, transforming a drifting life into purposeful motion, though the spark may be small. **In simple terms:** Decisions unleash personal energy. Key Takeaway Make a clear, bold decision. Themes decision energy personal transformation awakening Mood thoughtful empowering Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career change - personal growth - overcoming stagnation - creative breakthroughs Key Concepts psychology willpower change dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What small decision could shift your life? - How will you sustain the energy after deciding? A Different Perspective Decisions can be impulsive and lack follow‑through. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-happens/) [Decision Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-energy-487437/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decision Wake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-wake-4573786/) [Defenitive Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenitive-decision-4573784/) [Energy Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-personality-4573789/) ## Related quotes > [Our decision about energy will test the character of the American people and the ability of the President and the Congress to govern this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/our-decision-about-energy-will-test-the-character-of-the-american/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Step out, trust yourself and allow the path to emerge. 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Lew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-a-lew/) > [Change happens when one individual has had enough pain and finds the inner resolve to ask for help and make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ferguson/change-happens-when-one-individual-has-had-enough-pain-and-finds-the/) [Mike Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ferguson/) > [“Change happens over time with consistent and persistent awareness met with discussion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-johnston/change-happens-over-time-with-consistent-and-persistent-awareness-met/) [Jaclyn Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-johnston/) > [True change happens within not without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-change-happens-within-not-without/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [CHANGE doesn't HAPPEN when circumstances IMPROVE. CHANGE HAPPENS when YOU decide to IMPROVE your circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-doesn-t-happen-when-circumstances-improve-change-happens-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“just remember sweetie, sometimes we can;t change what happens, but we can change how we let those things affect us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/just-remember-sweetie-sometimes-we-can-t-change-what-happens-but-we/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [While we march in the streets making our voices heard, we must also march to the ballot box. That's where the real change happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/while-we-march-in-the-streets-making-our-voices-heard-we-must-also/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [When the forces of liberalism and capitalism converge, change happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/when-the-forces-of-liberalism-and-capitalism-converge-change-happens/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Somethings you have no control over so its pointless trying to change them. Everything happens for a reason...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somethings-you-have-no-control-over-so-its-pointless-trying-to-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Change happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than the fear of letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-johnson/change-happens-when-the-pain-of-holding-on-becomes-greater-than-the/) [Spencer Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-johnson/) ## More by Howard Thurman > [ “...\[A\] strange necessity has been laid upon me to devote my life to the central concern that transcends the walls that divide and would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/a-strange-necessity-has-been-laid-upon-me-to-devote-my-life-to-the/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you-come-alive-and-go/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/when-the-song-of-the-angels-is-stilled-when-the-star-in-the-sky-is/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [I will light candles this Christmas, Candles of joy, despite all sadness, Candles of hope where despair keeps watch. Candles of courage where fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/i-will-light-candles-this-christmas-candles-of-joy-despite-all/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [There are two questions that we have to ask ourselves. The first is 'Where am I going?' and the second is 'Who will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/there-are-two-questions-that-we-have-to-ask-ourselves-the-first-is/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Twilight - a time of pause when nature changes her guard. All living things would fade and die from too much light or too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/twilight-a-time-of-pause-when-nature-changes-her-guard-all-living/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/there-is-something-in-every-one-of-you-that-waits-and-listens-for-the/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Dont ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/dont-ask-yourself-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-you/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [The years, the months, the days, and the hours have flown by my open window. Here and there an incident, a towering moment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/the-years-the-months-the-days-and-the-hours-have-flown-by-my-open/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [At the core of life is a hard purposefulness, a determination to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/at-the-core-of-life-is-a-hard-purposefulness-a-determination-to-live/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [I say that creeds, dogmas, and theologies are inventions of the mind. It is the nature of the mind to make sense out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/i-say-that-creeds-dogmas-and-theologies-are-inventions-of-the-mind-it/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [There were long stretches where each of us was engaged in a private world of rapidly shifting vignettes. Always I was overwhelmed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/there-were-long-stretches-where-each-of-us-was-engaged-in-a-private/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [The movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and women often calls them to act against the spirit of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/the-movement-of-the-spirit-of-god-in-the-hearts-of-men-and-women/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [It cannot be denied that too often the weight of the Christian movement has been on the side of the strong and the powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/it-cannot-be-denied-that-too-often-the-weight-of-the-christian/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [“When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/when-the-song-of-the-angels-is-stilled-when-the-star-in-the-sky-is-2/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) [Explore all 57 Howard Thurman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s a wondrous thing, that a decision to act releases energy in the personality. For days on end a person may drift along without much energy. Having no particular sense of direction and having no will to change. Then, something happens to alter the pattern. It may be something very simple and inconsequential in itself. But it stabs awake, it alarms, it disturbs. In a flash, one gets a vivid picture of oneself, and it passes. The result is decision. Sharp, defenitive decision. In the wake of the decision, yes, even as a part of the decision itself, energy is released. 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