That’s a common question, especially when you’re a little kid. For reasons I don’t fully understand, many of inquire about preferred colors and most of us have an answer when asked.

For me as a kid, the selection of a favorite color was a big deal. I remember weighing my rainbow of options when asked at a very early age and going with red. That choice was based on the presence of red in my home, primarily in the form of a particular sports team’s gear that belonged to my brother and the large scale flowers on my bedspread. Red. That was my pick.

By 3rd or 4th grade, I began to question my allegiance to red. I heard lots of other kids decree it their favorite, and, individualist that I am, I wasn’t fond of so many others sharing my preferred hue. One day, I immediately—and permanently—changed my mind. Red was out; purple was in.

I liked purple. It reminded me of the color theme of the bathroom I shared with my brother in our old house. I thought it was pretty. However, the strongest appeal of purple? It was unique. I didn’t have any friends in the purple camp. All the other kids could congregate around their pinks, blues, and reds, but I chose to stand proudly and solitarily with purple.

See what happened there?

I decided on a new favorite color, and…BOOM…it was a done deal. A decision made based on what was important to me. No looking back. No wavering. In an instant, I decided, and my new favorite color was in full operation.

My point for us grownups?

Changes don’t have to be preceded by elongated processes and great deliberation. Changes can happen suddenly—in an instance. You or I can make a decision and immediately take off in an entirely new direction.

Many ‘BOOM, change made!’ moments are not actually sudden when we factor in the longtime inner consideration and assessment that may have occurred separate from our conscious participation. As I share in my free audio quick-course (that you really should access by clicking here), we often pay attention to things without being actively aware of those things. Our amazing brains may puzzle together many bits and pieces underneath our own mental radars until one day, ta-dah, we arrive at new decision point with full confidence and clarity. The decision point didn’t come out of nowhere; it formed over time inside.

Regardless if the decision point has been stirring or presented itself in a quick and definite moment, the truth remains: we can decide and change with resolve. I say this with full acknowledgement and appreciation that many decisions merit deliberation and change often involves a process—a journey that will have us detouring and looking back. But don’t underestimate yourself, and don’t function under the false conception that every important, worthwhile thing must be drawn out or difficult.

Insider tip if you want to experience more clear decision points in your life: decide in advance about big things. You can make decisions that eliminate 100 other decisions and fortify you with amazing clarity when presented with choices as you are going through life. Example: My decision is I will not open have any new credit cards. So, no—sales person at the counter, I don’t want to save 10% on by purchase today by opening a store credit card. Another example: My decision is no more than 10 active emails in my inbox at the end of any day. So, I will manage these last 7 messages now…delete, forward, reply, delete, delete, reply, add to calendar…and close my laptop with my 10-message standard in place. A big example: Nobody treats me that way more than once. So, I will dissolve the relationship immediately—because my decision was made in advance, allowing me to move on without deliberation.

Even decisions that have been festering are ready and waiting for your now immediate decision. So make your choice, decide, and abide. There’s freedom and progress in deciding now.