Updating Your Algorithm for 2025
Slowly but surely things change. You should too.
Here's a random question for you. Is Pluto a planet?
If you ask me, the answer is yes. Because that’s what I learned in school. Pluto was part of the nine planets we memorised as children.
But ask kids today, and they’ll say no, it’s not.
Why? Because the rules changed.
Scientists reclassified it as a “dwarf planet” in 2006. Just like that, something we grew up believing was flipped on its head.
I needed to update my algorithm.
It got me thinking. What other outdated beliefs are we holding on to?
Holding onto outdated beliefs can be dangerous.
If you're using an old map to navigate a new city—it’s likely you’ll get lost.
If your thinking doesn’t evolve, you’re stuck making potentially important decisions with the wrong or incomplete data.
Are we the frog in boiling water?
On another note, how do you kill a frog?
As the famous premise goes, you don’t throw it into boiling water — the pesky thing will jump straight out. Instead, you place it in cool, comfortable tepid water and let it settle. The frog enjoys it, gets used to it, maybe even relaxes. Then, slowly but surely, you turn up the heat. By the time it realises something’s wrong, it’s too late. The water’s boiled, and the frog is done for.
The world (and particularly the West) operates exactly like this. There’s always a phase where everything seems great—a golden era that lets people drop their guard.
Take the 1950s and 60s. The post-war years in the West were a time of real prosperity. People bought homes, had stable well-paid jobs, and lived in thriving communities. The “American Dream” was born here, a dream Hollywood exported to the entire world.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel has a great chapter on this.
But look around today. Is that really still true? The American dream is slipping away. Wealth gaps are growing. The cost of living is suffocating us. In the United States, the top 1% of earners now hold more wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Yet, many still hold onto that romanticised idea and try and live their lives according to 'how it used to be' ignoring the water steadily heating around them.
The soft power of the idea exported around the world still lingers in our subconscious—and our algorithm hasn’t been sufficiently updated.
Outdated beliefs galore
I used to think getting a degree automatically meant a successful career. It’s what I was told growing up: work hard in school, go to university, and the rest will take care of itself. But after graduating and struggling for years in jobs I didn’t love, I realised—my algorithm was outdated.
We all clamour to try and get on the property ladder - signing away our the majority of our life for the 'death pledge' aka mortgage - regardless of whether it's the right decision or not. It's surely the thing to do, right?
Not necessarily. Your algorithm hasn't been updated.
We believe blindly all new and untested vaccinations are good because well, “we got them and we turned out okay”, right?
You get my point.
The world changed long, long ago.
Another outdated belief people cling to is democracy as the ultimate system of governance. It’s sold to us as the only option—because who wants dictatorship or communism, after all? That’s part of the marketing magic dust - your option is good because all others = bad.
Pause and think: what does democracy actually mean? “The rule of the many.”
Now, take a good look around you. Is that what you see? Or do a select few hold the real power—the ones with money, influence, and connections?
It’s all a façade. Democracy isn’t what they told us in school. The “will of the people” is just a slogan, not the reality. A 2014 study from Princeton University concluded that the U.S. operates more as an oligarchy than a democracy, with policy driven by the wealthy elite. Even the so-called "only democracy in the Middle East" falls apart under scrutiny when you look beyond the surface.
The countries that are the leading powers today (Russia, China et al) do not have a democracy - because any proper building of any country for lasting success needs more stability and sustainability than the boom-or-bust campaign trail every 5 years.
Free market capitalism falls into the same boat. We live and die by these ideologies and forever espouse them but we do not realise the cold hard reality…
It ONLY serves the system, NOT us.
The reason we champion all these things is because that’s all our worldview algorithm actually knows.
It was implanted there (or programmed, to continue the analogy) by our schooling.
So many of us are walking around, programmed with an outdated algorithm.
The Qur'anic Algorithm: A Lens for Truth
This is why you need an ever-evolving algorithm - but grounded in 100% truth.
The opening line of Surah-al-Kahf is “praise be to God, who revealed this Book to his servant, and allowed NO CROOKEDNESS in it.”
Meaning it's the one thing in the world which has a cast-iron guarantee from God, to be 100% true. Until the end of time.
This means it should act as our filter, our lens with which we see the world.
True Islam offers a different vision. The Qu’ranic way isn’t about serving the majority or catering to the elite—it’s about justice, first and foremost. And justice isn’t about pleasing everyone; it’s about doing what’s right.
The Qu’ranic way isn’t subservient to anyone except Allah. It doesn’t bend to populist desires or corporate interests. Instead, its focus is on the welfare of the people, rooted in divine principles. Justice becomes the foundation, and everything else falls into place.
Capitalism as a concept is not haram. But capitalism as it is practiced today, to oppress, to suppress and to create wealth disparity almost certainly is. Same with democracy and anything that does not have justice and accountability at the heart of it. The Qu’ran can help us to determine the truth of any situation - no matter how long it’s been sitting, stored in our psyche.
Unlearning to Relearn
Part of the 13 years in Makkah, at that stage of the Sahaba’s development, a huge part of it was NOT actually about learning the new details of the religion. It was about UNLEARNING all of the ‘jahiliyyah’ beliefs that were incompatible with this new elite system upgrade they were undergoing.
One of the biggest old myths we are holding on to is that your job role defines you. That you can be fulfilled through the constant acquisition of more wealth and status. When you’re a respectable member of society and you have the spouse, house and kids, you’ll be happy.
If the Qu’ran has detailed for us our true purpose of life - don’t you think we need an algorithm update on this, too? That is where true success will be found.
We live in a rapidly changing world. If you’re clinging to old myths about planets, prosperity, or politics, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
The challenge isn’t to abandon everything you know but to constantly re-evaluate.
Are you seeing the world as it is, or are you holding onto a version that no longer exists?
We mentioned Surah-al-Kahf earlier - and the relevant story is the one of Musa (AS) and Khidr (AS). In that story - Musa incorrectly came to conclusions about scenarios which seemed apparent but the reality was different. Khidr essentially told him that his limited algorithm needed to be updated - there were things he was not aware of.
These are the times we are in.
The water around us is heating up.
It might feel comfortable now, but comfort can be deadly if it blinds you to reality.
Don’t let yourself be the frog. Step out of the boiling water.
Challenge your thinking. Reflect on the beliefs you’ve been holding onto and ask: are they still true? Are they serving you?
What do you need to unlearn?
Like Musa (AS) with Khidr (AS), we must accept that our knowledge is limited and be willing to update our worldview.
Start with your purpose - as that is the most critical - and it drives everything else.
Take the first step towards updating your understanding of purpose and the life you’re meant to lead.
Take some time to reflect on the algorithm running your life today.
Is it aligned with divine principles, or is it holding you back?
If you’re ready to update your algorithm and finally want 2025 the year you do this, there’s a few things you can do.
Figure out how aligned your life currently is to your purpose and where you need to improve through this free scorecard - understand how much updating you really need!
Join a like-minded community of people all trying to be better and update their algorithms, too: https://www.skool.com/kn-ow/about
It could be time to get a mentor and guide to support you on this journey. Apply to book a free discovery call with us and let us assist you on this pursuit towards a life of purpose.
I love the analogy that we're holding onto to many outdated beliefs. I liked the point you made about how the West still holds onto the 50s and 60s perception of America which is no longer a reality.