Regret Minimization Framework *

Do you see yourself in the 3rd person or the 1st person when looking back at memories?

We all do both, but we're also more likely to default to one over the other. The icebreaker intrigued me and prompted a reflection on whether the way we visualize our memories can shape the path for our future.

We are the star of our own movie (and that comes with the caveat, that we are just extras in everyone else’s life movie).

Sometimes we replay our past scenes in the first person, re-living the moment. These memories are usually deeply emotional and come with intricate details – the whispering breeze, the scent of the ocean, or the warmth of a loving hug. I hypothesize that being able to relive a memory indicates how present we were in the original moment.

Then, there are times when we turn into the director of our own film, observing from a distance, getting a holistic view of events and our role in them. These third-person memories often foster rational thinking and self-analysis, focusing on the bigger picture rather than the visceral details. Maybe our defaulting into third person indicates our necessity to see the moment with a focus on the larger impact? Obviously, my interpretations are speculative as research in this domain is still in progress.

Either way, we all hold a personal movie reel of our past experiences that we can view in different perspectives.

One key character in our life's movie is regret.

The fear of regret can be paralyzing, but there's a way to transform it into a powerful motivator: Jeff Bezos' Regret Minimization Framework.

Picture yourself at 80, sipping your favorite drink, reflecting on life. Would you regret not taking the leap of faith, not embracing the opportunity, not living your dream? The exercise of imagining yourself in the future forces gut and intuition to the forefront of your present.

Adopting Bezos' Regret Minimization Framework can inspire us to embrace a futuristic 3rd person perspective that is wholistic, helping us make decisions we are less likely to regret. Is minimizing regret just maximizing life's opportunities? A shift in perspective pushes us beyond our comfort zones and propels us to break free from the chains of present-day fears, uncertainties, and self-doubt. It's not about reckless decisions, but about considered risks that align with our future aspirations, enabling us to make decisions that align with our long-term visions and goals.

The way we remember our past and envision our future shapes the reality of our present. Isn't it time we all experimented with our perspective more consciously and intentionally?