Decision Making, Regret and the Myth of the Perfect Choice

In this episode of the Grow As I Go Podcast, Amy Savage explores one of life’s biggest challenges: making decisions and living with uncertainty. From relationships and career changes to major life crossroads, Amy unpacks why regret is often rooted in comparing reality to an imaginary alternative. She shares powerful insights on decision-making, the psychology of choice, grief, commitment, and why the goal isn’t to make the perfect choice - but to make your choice the right one. If you’ve ever been stuck overthinking a decision, questioning a path you’ve taken, or wondering “what if?”, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on trust, growth, and moving forward with confidence.Key TakeawaysYou cannot compare your life to an imaginary one. The path not taken exists only in your imagination, making it easy to idealiseMost decisions are predictions, not certainties. We make choices based on incomplete information and can never fully know how the alternative would have unfoldedEvery choice comes with both gains and losses. Even the right decisions often involve grief, sacrifice or discomfortRegret often assumes the alternative would have been better. In reality, we never experience the challenges and trade-offs that would have come with the road not takenIndecision is still a decision. Choosing not to act continues to shape your life just as much as taking actionFocus less on making the right choice and more on making your choice right. Meaning is built through commitment, effort and participation after the decision is made.Timestamps00:37 - Why uncertainty and 'what if' thinking creates so much suffering03:03 - The road not taken: why you'll never know the outcome of the alternative path06:34 - The myth of the 'right choice' and accepting the trade-offs that come with every decision11:28 - When decisions aren't unclear - they're just difficult because of what comes next12:24 - Amy's deeply personal story about making a difficult decision during her adoption journey 16:42 - 'What you're not changing, you're choosing': why avoiding decisions still shapes your life20:00 - The three levels of decision making: instinct, social expectations and intuition22:02 - Choices, chances and changes: why growth required action despite uncertainty Memorable quote“Lets stop focusing all our energy on trying to make the right choice. Let’s make a choice based on the knowledge we have, and focus our energy on making it the right choice for us’’Connect with Grow As I GoIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast on Spotify and share it with someone you know who struggles with making a decision, whether it be what to eat from the menu at a restaurant or a big, life changing decision. Follow on Instagram: @growasigopodcast