As a subscriber and enthusiastic advocate of Gurwinder's newsletter, "The Prism," I'm excited to share a standout insight from his latest edition.
It’s called "Regret Minimization." Read his explanation below, and don't miss the video at the end of the article for an additional perspective.
“The opinion you should care about most is your future self’s.”
One of the most powerful razors is to view a decision from the perspective of your future self. It combines the effects of Solomon’s Paradox and Uphill Decisions, offering the former’s detachment and the latter’s view of the long-term.
One way to achieve this is with the 10:10:10 strategy: consider how a decision will affect you in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. This is particularly good for fighting addictions. For instance, if you’re on a diet but craving a chocolate muffin, consider how you’ll feel 10 minutes after consuming it, and you’ll realize you’ll no longer taste the chocolatiness, and will only feel guilt. Furthermore, in 10 months you’ll have no memory of ever having eaten it. By stepping outside the present moment, you become less vulnerable to the desire for immediate gratification.
More momentous decisions benefit from even bigger leaps through time. When trying to decide whether to start a business called Amazon, Jeff Bezos imagined himself at 80 years, looking back at his life. He realized that what he would’ve regretted most was not failing but never trying.
Think about it: somewhere in the future, your older self is watching you through memories.
Whether it's with regret or nostalgia depends on what you do now.
Check out the video here:Regret Minimization Framework
Have a Great Sunday
Manoj
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