What if the biggest factor in our decision-making isn’t logic or desire, but fear? Kate Linton uncovers the unseen power of regret aversion—the psychological force that shapes the decisions we make every day. Through personal anecdotes, behavioural science, and real-world examples, she explores how our fear of future regret and making the "wrong" choice can hold us back from taking risks, seizing opportunities, and trusting our own instincts. She poses the question, are we truly making choices for ourselves, or are we just seeking to avoid regret? This talk explores why we let regret dictate our lives and how we can break free from its grip to make choices with confidence and clarity. Kate Linton, a senior at JIS, grew up watching TED Talks and dreaming of one day stepping onto the red dot herself. Now, she’s turning that dream into reality with a talk that unpacks the psychology behind fear based decision-making and regret aversion. Known for her habit of writing meticulous pros and cons lists before making most decisions, Kate blends personal insight with a touch of humor as she explores how we can better handle tough decisions with optimism and confidence. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx