Fresh Eyes: What Happens When You Don’t Sign In

This morning, I opened one of my go-to platforms for thoughtful writing—where I usually catch up on essays about art, creativity, and why they matter so deeply in our lives. But something felt off. Headlines I didn’t recognize. Writers I’d never followed. Perspectives completely outside my carefully curated feed.

Still, I stayed. I read more closely. I was more curious. Instead of skimming the latest post from a familiar voice—already half-knowing what they might say—I found myself genuinely learning something new.

It wasn’t until later that I realized: I hadn’t signed in.

No algorithm. No history. No favourites. Just a raw, unfiltered view of what’s out there—or at least what’s curated when none of your own preferences are guiding the way.

It reminded me of the time I did something similar with my favourite streaming platform. What once felt like it really understood me had started to feel stagnant—like I was trapped in a feedback loop of my past interests. So I deleted my entire watch history. It felt like a big move, but suddenly, new genres and unexpected stories appeared. I had cleared the slate—and with it, rediscovered the joy of surprise.

And that’s the heart of it: surprise. Openness. Curiosity. The willingness to loosen your grip on the familiar.

Psychologist Ellen Langer offers a modern, research-driven take on what many might recognize as beginner’s mind—a concept rooted in Zen tradition. She describes it as the practice of “actively noticing new things,” a mindset that has been shown to increase creativity, improve decision-making, and help us break out of autopilot. It’s a way of returning to the present moment with fresh attention—of approaching the familiar as if for the first time.

But how do we actually do that, in a world increasingly defined by defaults? Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a different route to work. Asking someone a new question. Reading something you wouldn’t normally choose. Stepping away from your usual sources, your favourites list, your ‘most played’—just long enough to let a new voice in.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic. In fact, it’s often in the smallest shift of attention that something new reveals itself.

So here’s your invitation: Where in your life might you be craving fresh eyes? What would happen if you stepped outside the algorithm—literal or metaphorical—and gave yourself space to be surprised?

In a world that often rewards certainty, there’s quiet power in not always knowing.