A few years ago I came up with an idea that’s helped me make better decisions in my life. It’s a simple question that I ask myself when I come to a crossroads:
Which path will cause me to feel less regret in the future?
Only a few hundred years ago a philosopher could be tortured or put to death for works of prophecy. In fact I’d say that until the information age, any careful considerations of the future were considered by most to be either heathenism, mysticism or quackery. Nowadays we have super-sophisticated software and statistical modelling resources, as well as a much richer understanding of the events of our history than ever before. We have become a culture far more capable of thinking ahead.
Every single one of us is in on this advancement, as it relates not to our physiology, but our shared informational resources. We’re learning new ways to look at the world through the contemplation of a more sophisticated picture of how events inter-relate over time.
At the end of the day my point is about a process, not about technology or evolution. Never before could a human think so clearly about what different choices in their life may make them feel in the future. The metrics for the contemplation of our own lives are exponentially more sophisticated.
The next time you’re faced with a difficult life decision, try taking a second to imagine yourself in the future. What will your regrets be? How will you feel about your choices? Imagine what your future self would tell you to do. I see this precognitive regret gauging exercise as tremendously valuable in clarifying to oneself what your true values are, and what you want to accomplish in your time here on earth.