Your Algorithm vs. Your Instinct

Think of a book, album, film, or show that genuinely changed how you see something — then trace the arc of how it found you.

The Before State

Before you encountered this work, what were you consuming mostly? Write one line describing your cultural comfort zone at that time — the genres, artists, or types of stories you always returned to.

How It Found You

Was it an algorithm, a friend, an accident, or something else? Mark where on this spectrum your discovery landed, and note one word that describes how it felt.

Pure algorithm

Pure human chance

The After State

Sort what changed into these two zones: things it opened up for you, and things it made you less interested in.

Opened up

Closed off

What You Thought It Meant

Look back at step 2. At the time, what story did you tell yourself about why this discovery happened — luck, good taste, a clever platform? Write one sentence. Then mark whether you still believe that story: does your step 3 evidence support it or undercut it?

Story I told then

→

Does it still hold?

The Real Meaning

Revisit step 2 one more time. Choose ONE word that captures what this discovery actually depended on — not the story you told, but the honest answer now. Write it large, then write one sentence explaining why that word, and not the one you first thought of.

Why that word?

Discuss Tell your partner: if the algorithm had been smarter that day, would you have found this work sooner — or never at all?

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