Lewis Cracknell

The Decision-Making Aid You Never Knew You Needed!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re torn between choices, unsure of which path to take? Often, we only realize the weight of our decisions when it’s too late. But what if you could foresee the potential regrets before making a choice? Enter Proactive Regret Avoidance (PRA) – a powerful tool designed to help you navigate life’s decisions with confidence and clarity.

Why PRA?

I was searching for a term that captured a method I frequently use: envisioning a future decision and reflecting on the potential regrets that might arise from it. After some research, I stumbled upon ‘regret manifesting,’ but it didn’t quite capture the essence of what I had in mind. Then I found a term which doesn’t appear to be widely used called PRA (Proactive Regret Avoidance) – a term that perfectly aligns with my approach.

Breaking Down PRA:

• Proactive – This system encourages forward-thinking and anticipation.
• Regret – A powerful trigger word that evokes a natural aversion, sometimes necessary to guide our choices.
• Avoidance – No one wants regrets. The goal is to sidestep them before they take root

PRA vs. Pre-Mortem:

While a pre-mortem is a strategic planning exercise used to foresee and mitigate potential project failures, PRA is a gentler, more personal tool that can be applied to everyday life scenarios.

Applying PRA:

Consider a scenario many of us face:

Scenario: Deciding Whether to Attend a Party

You’ve committed to a period of sobriety, but your friends are hosting a party that you know will have alcohol. You haven’t seen your friends in a while and feel the need to unwind and connect.

Running This Through PRA:

1. Visualise the Options:
   • Option 1: Skip the party.
   • Option 2: Attend the party.
     
2. Assess Potential Regrets:
   • Skipping the Party: You might regret missing out on socializing, potentially straining your relationships with friends.
   • Attending the Party: You risk caving to peer pressure, breaking your sobriety, and facing a cascade of negative consequences.

Evaluate and Decide: Which regret will weigh heavier on you? Missing a social event or compromising your sobriety and the goals associated with it? This is where PRA may help.