Reinforcement Learning Should Be the Way of Life
Life isn’t about following a set of rules. It’s not about having all the answers upfront or being spoon-fed the perfect way to succeed. Instead, life is about learning by doing, figuring things out as you go, and growing through the process.
I believe life should be approached like reinforcement learning (RL). Think about it: no one gives you a complete playbook. Society hands you some “training data”—rules, norms, expectations—but it’s often biased, incomplete, and sometimes flat-out wrong. You’re left to navigate the world, make your own choices, and deal with the consequences, good or bad.
And you know what? That’s okay. In RL, there’s no “right” or “wrong” move—just actions, outcomes, and the lessons you learn along the way.
Step Out and Learn
If you’re 16 or 60, it doesn’t matter. Life won’t hand you a cheat sheet. You’ve got to step out, take risks, and figure things out for yourself.
You’ll mess up. Everyone does. But every mistake adds to your “dataset.” You learn what works, what doesn’t, and what might work next time. The point isn’t to avoid failure but to keep learning from it.
Forget Perfect Decisions
There’s no such thing as the “perfect” decision. Whether you’re choosing a career path, deciding who to trust, or figuring out what makes you happy, it’s all trial and error. Society might tell you what’s “right,” but that’s just noise. The only way to know what’s right for you is to act, reflect, and adjust.
Nothing is fixed. You can always tweak, pivot, and improve. Life is about evolving, not sticking to some rigid plan.
Rewards: Now or Later?
In RL, there’s a concept called the discount factor. It’s about balancing short-term rewards with long-term goals. Life is the same. Sometimes, you’ll want that quick win—maybe it’s choosing fun over work. Other times, you’ll sacrifice the present for something bigger in the future, like studying for a dream you want to achieve.
Neither is wrong. It’s about finding the balance that works for you.
Explore and Keep Exploring
If you only stick to what you know, you’ll never grow. RL teaches us to explore: try new things, take risks, and challenge the boundaries of what’s familiar.
Sure, it’s scary. You might fail or feel out of place. But every new experience adds to your understanding of the world and yourself. That’s how you build the life you want, not the one someone else has defined for you.
Make RL Your Life Philosophy
Here’s the deal: life isn’t a straight line. It’s not about being “right” all the time. It’s about showing up, making choices, and learning from the outcomes. Like RL, it’s a constant loop of action, feedback, and improvement.
So, stop worrying about doing things perfectly. Start taking action. Try. Fail. Succeed. Adjust.
Make reinforcement learning your way of life, and let the journey teach you everything you need to know.