I asked hundreds of people about their biggest life decisions. Here's what I learned

Much can be learned about how to make good life decisions by finding out what people's biggest regrets are. The five biggest regrets are:

• I wish I'd dared to live a life true to myself, not what others expected of me.
• I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
• I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
• I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends.
• I wish I had let myself be happier.

Women commonly have regrets about romance/family, while men have regrets about career/education.

• Inaction causes regret. (Deciding not to pursue something.) Males, in particular, regret not pursuing a romantic relationship.
• Poor decisions produce greater regret when you can't justify those decisions afterwards.
• Poor decisions in domains relevant to our sense of social belonging. (Breaking up your family by having a fling.)
• Regrets for lost opportunity, such as not being there for your children while they were growing up.
• Decisions that move you further from the ideal person you want to be.

• The most important life decisions relate to family and friends. Spend time getting these decisions right, and don't let other distractions undermine these relationships.
• Seize opportunities. You can always apologise or change course later, but you can't go back in time.
• Avoid making decisions that are against your personal values.