How to Make Better Decisions by Asking One Simple Question

Life is full of decisions. Some are life-changing: choosing a career, discerning a vocation, getting married, moving to a new city. 

Most, however, are much smaller. Should I say yes to this commitment? How should I respond to that email? Should I spend my evening catching up on work or being present with my family? Do I confront a friend or let it go? How should I use my free time? Should I watch this new series on Netflix? Should I hit the gym?

We often spend a great deal of energy trying to determine God's will for the big moments in life while overlooking the dozens of smaller decisions we make every day. Yet it is these ordinary choices that gradually shape our character and direct the course of our lives.

The good news is that we don't need a complicated decision-making process for every choice we face. Sometimes, asking one simple question can bring remarkable clarity:

Is this where God is calling me now?

A Different Way of Making Decisions

Our culture often encourages us to make decisions based on what feels good, what is most convenient, or what will bring us the greatest success. Those things aren't always bad. Convenience has its place, and success can be a gift.

But for Christians, they aren't the highest standard. Our first calling is not to become more comfortable, more admired, or even more productive. Our first calling is to become Saints - united with God in Heaven forever.

That doesn't mean every decision has an obvious "Catholic" answer. The question isn't whether you should become an accountant or a teacher, live in one city or another, or choose one hobby over another. Instead, it's asking whether your choice will help you love God and your neighbor more faithfully.

This Question Changes Ordinary Decisions

Not every decision requires hours of discernment. Sometimes the answer becomes clear when we pause long enough to ask the right question.

You're tempted to gossip. Is this where God is calling me now?

You're deciding whether to scroll on your phone for another hour or spend a few quiet minutes in prayer. Is this where God is calling me now?

You're frustrated with a coworker and preparing a sarcastic reply. Is this where God is calling me now?

You have the opportunity to encourage someone who is struggling. Is this where God is calling me now?

The beauty of this question is that it shifts our focus from immediate gratification to lasting growth; from what I want in the moment to what God desires for me.

Don't Wait for Perfect Certainty

Sometimes we hesitate because we're afraid of making the wrong choice. We want absolute certainty before taking the next step. But that's rarely how God works.

More often, He asks us to prayerfully gather the information we need, seek wise counsel when appropriate, make the best decision we can, and trust Him with the outcome. God is a loving Father, not a puzzle-maker trying to hide His will from us. If we're sincerely seeking Him, He is more than capable of guiding our steps, even when our path isn't perfectly clear.

The Importance of Rectitude of Intention

Sometimes two people can do the exact same thing for entirely different reasons. One person works hard to earn praise. Another works hard to glorify God and serve others. The outward action looks identical. The intention is completely different.

This is why the saints spoke so often about rectitude of intention, doing the right thing for the right reason. Asking "Is this where God is calling me now?" helps us examine not only what we're doing, but why we're doing it. It invites us to place Christ at the center of our decisions rather than our ego, our comfort, or our desire for approval.

A Helpful Habit Before Every Decision

Before making an important decision, try pausing for just thirty seconds.

Ask yourself:

• Is this where God is calling me now?

• Am I acting out of love or fear?

• Is this choice leading me toward virtue or away from it?

• Can I honestly ask God to bless this decision?

You won't always receive an immediate answer. But you'll begin making decisions in conversation with God rather than apart from Him.

Learning from the Saints

The saints didn't become holy because they made one perfect decision. They became holy because they consistently chose Christ in thousands of ordinary moments.

In The Way, St. Josemaría Escrivá reminds readers that holiness is built through faithfulness in the little things. A kind word, an honest day's work, a hidden sacrifice, or a quiet act of service may seem insignificant, but together they form a life centered on God.

Likewise, Friends of God invites us to cultivate the virtues that make good decisions possible: humility, prudence, charity, and trust. Rather than searching for extraordinary signs, the saints teach us to seek God faithfully in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.

One Question, A Lifetime of Growth

The next time you're faced with a decision, whether it's large or small, pause before reacting. Take a breath. Turn your attention to God. Then ask: Is this where God is calling me now?

It won't answer every practical question. But it will help ensure that the most important question is never forgotten. Because at the end of our lives, we won't be measured by how many decisions made us more successful, more comfortable, or more admired.

We'll be measured by how faithfully those decisions led us to love Christ and the people He placed in our path. And that is always the right direction.