The Decision-Making Mindset That Can Change Everything

Why Peace of Mind, Not Perfection, Is the New Gold Standard for Decisions

Every day, we’re faced with decisions; some small and fleeting, others life-defining. However, in a world that demands clarity and perfection in every choice, many of us find ourselves at a standstill. Overthinking. Avoiding. Second-guessing. Trying to optimize for success while minimizing failure. Searching for certainty in an uncertain world.

What if there’s a different way?

The goal isn’t to find the “right” decision, it’s to find the peaceful one. Adobe Stock

Through years of personal experience and coaching others through professional crossroads, caregiving crises, health scares, and parenting dilemmas, I’ve come to believe this: the goal isn’t to find the “right” decision, it’s to find the peaceful one.

That’s the power of the Path of Least Regret®.

This mindset shift began for me during one of the most uncertain periods of my life. I was a new mother, recovering from a C-section, when I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. As an MIT and Harvard-trained strategist, I was used to making data-driven decisions. But no spreadsheet or survival statistic could give me the clarity I craved when choosing a treatment plan.

Instead, I asked myself: What will I least regret? Which option would maximize my peace of mind knowing I made the best decision I could based on what I knew and valued at the time? I couldn’t control the outcome, but I could at least control the process by which I made my choice.

That one question changed everything. It helped me make a life-altering decision not from a place of fear, but from intention and alignment. Over time, it became a framework that I’ve shared with others facing pivotal choices in business, health, and life.

Here’s what I’ve seen: when we use regret as a compass, rather than a shadow of hindsight, we shift from paralysis to peace. We stop trying to predict the future and start anchoring in the present. We learn to make decisions that are intentional, grounded, and values-aligned, even when the stakes are high and the path ahead is unclear.

And it turns out, peace of mind is a more powerful outcome than perfection ever was.

What to Expect from This Blog Series

Over the next 11 posts, I’ll guide you through the key mindsets and tools behind the Path of Least Regret. You’ll learn how to:

• Navigate uncertainty and emotional overwhelm

• Let go of outdated definitions of success

• Apply a new lens to decisions around career, health, relationships, and beyond

• Create intentional practices that build long-term resilience

Whether you’re at a major crossroads during this holiday season or simply feeling a quiet nudge for change, this series is here to help you move forward with clarity, courage, and yes, peace of mind.

Because in the end, it’s not about finding the perfect decision. It’s about crafting one you can live with; one that honors who you are today, not just who you hope to become.

Ready to walk the Path of Least Regret? Take 5-10 minutes to reflect: What’s one area of your life where you’re feeling stuck or misaligned, and are you ready to show up differently?

The Path of Least Regret by Parul Somani is scheduled for release in March 2026 with Forbes Books.

I hope you join me on this journey. My new book, The Path of Least Regret: Decide with Clarity. Move Forward with Confidence. is set to be released in March 2026 with Forbes Books. Learn more today at parulsomani.com/book and sign up for launch updates to receive a free worksheet on “Five Questions to Guide Your Decision-Making.”

Note: This post was originally published on Forbes.com on November 11, 2025.

About Parul Somani

Parul Somani is a thought leader in the field of intentional living, dedicated to helping people navigate change with clarity and confidence. A graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School, she built her career at Bain & Company and in Silicon Valley startups before a life-altering cancer diagnosis at age thirty-one reshaped her path. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal resilience, she developed the Path of Least Regret® framework, which Fortune 100 companies and high achievers worldwide now use to make resilient decisions in life and leadership. Featured in Forbes, MIT Technology Review, Thrive Global, and other notable publications, Somani empowers others to thrive with intention and resilience.

Follow Parul on LinkedIn and Instagram, and receive a free guide on resilient decision-making when you join her mailing list today at https://www.parulsomani.com/freeguide.