Jason Allatt, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
“Identity cannot be found or fabricated but emerges from within when one has the courage to let go.”- Doug Cooper
Have you ever made a split-second decision that seemed so small at the time, but ended up completely changing who you are? I bet you have, even if you don’t realize it yet. Maybe it was raising your hand in class when you were terrified to speak. Or perhaps it was choosing to sit next to the new kid at lunch instead of your usual friends. These tiny moments might seem insignificant when they happen, but they can become the turning points that shape our entire identity.
My story begins with one of those seemingly small choices. It was a day when I got ready, looked at myself in the mirror and felt completely lost. Somewhere I felt I was not living in that moment. And that made me realize that it was time to take care of my health when I wanted to actually feel good and not worry about looking good. Something inside me whispered “What if?” That tiny question changed everything. One small “yes” transformed me from a reserved individual to a person who was not necessarily socially involved, but happy in my own zone and not bothered about socializing.
The decision took maybe 30 seconds, but those 30 seconds felt like an eternity. I made a promise to myself to take care of my health and started aiming for small goals. For someone like me, who was a student of psychology, I can understand feeling my way through things more than a practical approach. That evening, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I didn’t know how to start, which first steps to take. Sometimes, you just have to go in silence and try to hear that whisper that comes from within.
I started my journey with 2 km of walking and eventually ended up with 10 km. It was never an easy journey, and I guess it should not feel like one either. The challenges that you face, the goals that you set can keep you so focused. For me, discipline and consistency played the biggest roles in my journey. It was like there were two versions of me fighting—the old me who wanted to stay in her comfort zone and a new version who was curious about what might happen if I stepped outside my comfort zone.
Somewhere in the middle of my journey, I started to find my rhythm. My voice got stronger, my thoughts became clearer and I started enjoying the challenge of building health in the way I craved. By that time I felt different—not completely transformed yet, but I felt that I’d caught a glimpse of who I could become if I kept pushing myself.
Finally, it was a dream come true when last month I ran my first ever 10 km run, during the Run for Women for mental health. What better event could I have chosen than this! My confidence grew slowly but steadily with each practice run. Every time I showed up for my run, it got a little easier. My body became stronger, my timing improved and I learned how to think quickly under pressure. But the biggest change wasn’t in my running abilities—it was in how I saw myself. This shift in self-perception was like putting on a pair of glasses and seeing the world clearly for the first time.
Your identity isn’t fixed or predetermined. It’s something you create through the choices you make every single day. That small decision you’re considering right now could be the beginning of an incredible journey toward becoming the person you’re meant to be. So, ask yourself: What if I said yes? What if I tried? What if this one small step changed everything? The only way to find out is to act and see what happens. Trust me—your future self will be so grateful that you did.
—
Diny Davis is an aspiring author. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate. She strongly believes that true well-being comes from nurturing both physical and mental health. By maintaining balanced habits, staying active and cultivating a positive mindset, she views wellness as the foundation for a balanced, fulfilling and successful life.