Ask the 80-year-old version of you what to do. They won’t care about the likes. They’ll care about the people.

Distance from a decision changes which factors look important. Most of what feels pressing now, other people’s opinions, small embarrassments, short term standing, does not survive being viewed from the far end of a life. What survives is who you were close to and what you actually built.

Use the question on something you are deciding at the moment. Ask which option the much older version would be glad you took, and notice how quickly the answer arrives. It is usually the one that costs more social comfort today.