A Truly Life-Changing Habit by Kristen

A Truly Life-Changing Habit by Kristen - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh has been quoted as saying, "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." While it's impossible to ask him directly what he meant by this, most people would say that he recognized the importance of focusing on small and intentional personal improvements, rather than huge or random ones. If you think about it logically, it makes perfect sense; after all, why do so many people abandon their New Year's Resolutions so quickly? Either because they tried to take on too much at once or they picked something too large and difficult to manage. It's better, therefore, to start small and work your way into more complex and challenging changes as you progress. The one small habit I began in 2026 was committing to reading my Bible each day, and it's a habit that has already begun to make positive changes in how I view the world, my family, and myself.
First of all, reading my Bible daily has helped me to reexamine how I view the world. By focusing on something that shows me daily what it means to live a godly life, I find myself much less interested in some of the secular goings-on in the world. I have tried to be much more in tune with my family and friends and have made a conscious effort to waste less time on things that are frivolous or which stand in contradiction with my morals. I have also started being much more selective about what kind of social media exposure I allow in my life, and for how long. Finally, spending time in God's word each day has helped me to be a bit kinder and more patient with those around me, especially when I'm sick or tired, as I strive to be worthy of the same grace and compassion. Clearly, this one small change will have a ripple effect on those around me.
Secondly, reading my Bible each day has affected the way I view and treat my family. As I continually expose myself to stories of God's love and forgiveness, I have identified areas in which I can the kind of wife, mother, and grandmother I am. I try harder to minimize any criticism and temper it with kindness when it does need to be administered. I'm getting better at keeping comments to myself which might be rude, snarky, or unhelpful. I have also recommitted myself to exemplifying the qualities God wants me to demonstrate in my home: love, firmness, consistency, and forgiveness. Do I still have a long way to go? Absolutely! But I am improving daily, and I know it's because of the positive influence of this new habit.
Finally, reading the Bible daily has changed the way I look at myself. By selecting a reasonable goal (reading the entire Bible by the end of the year) that I've been able to stick to, I'm now ready to set new goals. By finding a way to reach my goal that meets my needs as a very busy, ADHD teacher and woman, I'm starting to feel better about myself as a person. The improvement that daily time with the Lord has had on my self-esteem is even starting to change the way I speak to myself, and I find that I am kinder and less harsh than I used to be. As a domestic violence survivor and the adult child of two alcoholics, this positivity is sorely needed, and the prevailing sense of peace I've started to experience has been a blessing in and of itself.
When Lao Tzu said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," I wasn't even born yet, but to me, this mantra captures perfectly the power that making one small change can have on a person's life. Whether it's learning how to cook, running a marathon, taking up painting, or hiking each month, all it takes is making a single tiny decision to have a tremendous impact on your existence. Like the proverbial chain of dominos, that one small change will trigger a cascade of other positive effects like ripples spreading across a pond. All you need is a goal and a will.