My Regret Minimization Framework

I have found yoga to be an impactful tool I use to benefit not only my physical well-being, but my mental health. You might think it is a  “look good, feel good” kind of tactic, but I have found that I have used it as a mindset regulator. Let me explain. 

Oftentimes at the beginning of my yoga sequence, the instructor will normally set an intention for your practice that day and end that practice with some sort of take-away lesson. These take-aways always stick with me and I like how my exercise can also allow me to critically think about my decisions and relationships. 

The first day I got home from my university studies in France, I attended a class at my favorite studio in Tennessee. I find that often my internal conflicts are verbalized somehow in my everyday life. I don’t really think that I am super in touch with the universe where it gives me signs, but for some reason the world always tells me what I need to hear whether I like it or not. So, on that first day back, jet-lagged and out of shape, my instructor Tracy left me with a piece of advice that conceptualized everything I had been feeling those past couple months. She spoke of the Regret Minimization Framework. What the framework spoke to is this: Imagine yourself at 80 years old; Will you regret not taking a specific path? 

This framework struck me like lightning during that practice. After living abroad, I was constantly having thoughts of what my future might look like. Before going to France, I had my life laid out pretty well. I would come home, get a job as a server at a local restaurant, and start studying for the LSAT. It was a safe, solid plan. I was never deeply passionate about law, but I knew it was a stable path with financial security. It checked the boxes—but it never really lit a fire in me. While abroad, I formed a close friendship with someone who challenged me to think more critically—and more courageously—about the possibilities of my future. One day, after spending months getting to know me, I asked him what he thought I should do. His response wasn’t prescriptive, but it forced me to confront a question I had been avoiding:

Was I choosing law school because I wanted it, or because it felt safe?

Meeting people who led fascinating lives—people who had taken chances, chased curiosity, and embraced the unknown—completely shifted my mindset. I realized that, for the first time in my life, I wanted to take real risks—not just to succeed, but to feel fulfilled. I didn’t want to just exist within a pre-written plan; I wanted to create one that was uniquely mine. Since then, I’ve been actively choosing paths that push me, excite me, and scare me just enough to grow. I began viewing life not as something to cautiously manage, but as something to maximize.

Being surrounded by such an accomplished, eager, and open-minded community has helped me live out the Regret Minimization Framework in real time. While I still struggle with comparison—seeing peers land impressive internships or secure spots in elite graduate programs—I’ve come to understand that this stage of life is uniquely filled with possibility. I am as curious, adaptable, and open to growth now as I may ever be. Yoga has taught me how to pause, reflect, and set intentions that align with who I want to become—not just professionally, but personally. It has grounded me during periods of uncertainty and reminded me to lean into discomfort as a space for growth. With that in mind, I’ve started saying yes to more: yes to unfamiliar places, yes to new friendships, yes to the challenge of learning far from home. I’m not chasing a perfect version of myself—but I am committed to becoming the fullest version. The version that will look back at 80 years old and be proud of the adventures and accomplishments made.