Training Life’s Algorithm Is A Choice

If you are on the internet, then you’ve experienced the algorithm. Love or hate it, the algorithm will show you what it thinks you want to see based on your history. You have a choice of how to train life’s algorithm.

Example of how the algorithm works:

Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc., know a lot about us. They know your age, gender, and demographic. They compile all that information to try and show you content they think might interest you. I love it when Google shows my blog to women over 50 who might be interested in fashion!

When you sign up for a new platform, you’re usually asked to select areas of interest or connect with a few friends. From there, the algorithm begins showing you different topics to gauge what grabs your attention. The goal? To keep you on their platform by giving you more of what you like.

The algorithm has it wrong!

If you find yourself frustrated by the posts on Instagram or Facebook, it’s time to retrain the algorithm. A friend of mine once said she kept seeing posts about hurt or abused animals, and it really bothered her. The problem? She had probably watched one or two of these posts, and now the algorithm was convinced she wanted to see more.

The same thing happens with other topics like politics, religion, cat videos, football, or Taylor Swift. Once you “feed” the algorithm by watching or pausing on certain content, BAM!—you’re likely to see more of it.

Training the Life Algorithm

Have you heard the tale of two wolves?

“A Cherokee elder was teaching his young grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil- he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego.
The other is good- he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”
The boy thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The elder simply replied,
“The one you feed.”
― Tsalagi Tale

Life is full of choices. Every day, we make decisions—what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, who to talk to, what to buy. These small decisions, though they may seem insignificant, are constantly shaping and training our hearts and minds—just like an algorithm.

The good news is that we can retrain our life’s algorithm by choosing to focus on positive, noble, and uplifting things. My recent post on Finding Hope In Jesus In A Troubled World might be helpful.

Philippians 4:8 NIV
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

How Are You Training Your Algorithm?

So, gurls, here’s the big question—what are you feeding your heart and mind? Are you filling your life with joy, peace, love, and truth, or are you letting negativity and worry take over? Just like with social media, we need to be intentional about what we give our attention to in life.

The choice is ours. We have the power to decide which wolf our life algorithm will feed. As Philippians 4:8 reminds us, we have the chance to focus on the good, to retrain our minds to think on things that are true and lovely. If we do that, our hearts will become more in tune with the positive and the beautiful, and our lives will reflect that.

To GOD Goes the Glory!

Have a Blessed Day!

Let’s end with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to feed the good in our hearts and minds, to focus on what is true, noble, right, and lovely. Guide us to train our thoughts on things that honor You and bring peace to our lives. May we choose joy, love, and hope in all we do, and may we always seek to lift up those around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.