/future

Analyze a major decision through the lens of future regret. Clarity from the deathbed.

Phase 1: Decision Context

Capture the decision:

• What are you deciding between? (be specific)
• What's the default path (what happens if you do nothing)?
• What's the timeline?
• What makes this decision feel significant?

Phase 2: Regret Minimization Framework

Project to age 80 and evaluate each option:

For each option, ask:

1. Regret of Action

• Will I regret doing this?
• What's the worst outcome if I choose this?
• Will this matter in 1 year? 5 years? 20 years?
• What becomes irreversible?

2. Regret of Inaction

• Will I regret NOT doing this?
• What opportunity dies if I don't act?
• What will I wonder about forever?
• What story will I not have?

3. Dignity Test

• Can I explain this decision to my 80-year-old self?
• Is this fear-driven or values-driven?
• Would I be proud to tell this story?
• Does this align with who I want to become?

4. Opportunity Cost

• What am I saying "no" to by choosing this?
• What doors close? What doors open?
• What becomes easier/harder next?
• What precedent does this set for future decisions?

Phase 3: Time Horizon Analysis

Evaluate across multiple timeframes:

## Option A: [Choice]

### 1 year out
- Likely outcome: [realistic projection]
- Best case: [optimistic]
- Worst case: [pessimistic]
- Regret probability: X%

### 5 years out
- Likely outcome: [projection]
- Reversibility: [can you undo this?]
- Regret probability: X%

### 20 years out (age 80 perspective)
- Will this matter? [yes/no + why]
- Story worth telling? [yes/no]
- Regret probability: X%

Phase 4: Comparison Matrix

## Regret Analysis

|                          | Option A | Option B | Default (Do Nothing) |
| ------------------------ | -------- | -------- | -------------------- |
| **Action Regret**        | X%       | Y%       | Z%                   |
| **Inaction Regret**      | X%       | Y%       | Z%                   |
| **Net Regret (higher=worse)** | N%  | N%       | N%                   |
| **Passes Dignity Test**  | Yes/No   | Yes/No   | Yes/No               |
| **Reversible**           | Type     | Type     | Type                 |

### Key Insights
1. [Insight about regret patterns]
2. [Insight about irreversibility]
3. [Insight about values alignment]

Phase 5: Synthesis

## Recommendation (from age 80)

**Choose:** [Option]

**Because:**
- [Primary reason based on regret analysis]
- [Secondary reason]
- [Values alignment]

**Warning:**
- [What to watch for]
- [How to know if this was wrong]
- [Reversibility plan if available]

**At age 80, you will likely:**
- [Prediction about how you'll feel about this decision]

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[Quality Footer - see ../skills/soul/references/quality-footer.md]

Phase 6: Wait

Do not make the decision. Present analysis and wait for user to choose.

This is a framework for thinking, not a replacement for judgment.

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Task

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