Do I Actually Like This?

A story about Britney, curly-fries, and a tiny identity crisis.

I was driving. Alone. With a carton of curly fries that I did not need—but emotionally?

Essential.

I’m flipping radio stations when suddenly—

🎶 “…Baby One More Time” 🎶

And listen… my thumb froze mid-scan.

Head? Bopping.

Body? Committed.

Brain? Late to the meeting.

And then it hit me:

Wait. Do I actually think this is a great song…or was I simply raised in the Church of Britney?

Because growing up in peak-Britney era wasn’t a phase. It was a conditioning program.

And now I’m sitting there, curly fry in hand, wondering:

Is this my taste… or my environment’s greatest marketing campaign?

Let’s zoom out (because this is bigger than Britney)

This isn’t just about music.

It’s about:

• the workouts you swear by

• the foods you crave

• the clothes you buy

• the things you say you “love”

…and how much of that is actually you.

Your brain LOVES familiar things

There’s a concept in psychology called the mere exposure effect.

Translation:

The more you see/hear something, the more you tend to like it.

Not because it’s better.

Because it’s easier for your brain to process.

And your brain is like:

“Oh this again? Cute. Safe. We like this.”

Familiar = easy

Easy = good

Good = we’re playing this again

There’s even a related effect where repetition makes things feel true—even when they’re not.

So yeah…your brain is basically out here falling in love through exposure therapy.

Group energy is a whole THING

Ever noticed how a song hits differently alone versus in a group setting?

That’s not imaginary.

Your brain is wired to sync with other humans. We feel things more intensely when we feel them together.

So sometimes you don’t love the thing… you love the energy around the thing.

Which explains:

• why your workout playlist slaps harder in class

• why you suddenly like songs you used to skip

• why “meh” turns into “OMG THIS IS MY JAM” real fast

“Everyone loves it” is not a personality trait

Here’s the sneaky part:

Popularity isn’t just about quality. It’s about visibility.

The more something gets chosen → the more people see it → the more people choose it.

It’s a loop.

So sometimes:

“Everyone loves this,” actually means: “Everyone saw this first.”

Nostalgia is doing a LOT of heavy lifting

Let’s be honest.

You’re not just listening to the song.

You’re remembering:

• who you were

• where you were

• what life felt like

Your brain ties music to memory and emotion—hard. Which is why old songs hit like a time machine.

So when you say:

“This song is amazing.”

Sometimes what you mean is:

“I miss who I was when this played.”

Your brain is VERY easy to influence (sorry)

Same exact thing.

Different label.

Different price.

Different vibe.

Your brain:

“Wow this one is clearly superior.”

Expectation literally changes experience.

Which means:

• branding matters

• hype matters

• who recommends it matters

You’re not just tasting the thing. You’re tasting the story around it.

The curly fry realization

At this point, I’m sitting there like:

Cool. So my personality is:

• repetition

• group energy

• nostalgia

• branding

• and curly fries

Awesome.

So… do you actually like what you like?

Let’s not spiral. Let’s test it. Try one of these 2-minute taste checks:

1. Go blind

Play songs without titles/artists. Rate the vibe only.(Prepare to betray your favorites.)

2. Change the environment

Listen alone vs. with people. Notice what suddenly becomes “elite.”

3. Break the algorithm

Search something completely outside your usual lane. Your taste might be… underdeveloped 😅

4. Check the memory

Ask: “Do I like this… or do I like the version of me attached to this?”

Pro tip (because we don’t shame here)

Your preferences being influenced?

That’s not a flaw. That’s being human.

The goal isn’t to become some:

“I only like things in a vacuum” robot.

The goal is: AWARENESS.

Because awareness = CHOICE.

Why this actually matters

Because this isn’t about Britney.

It’s about your life.

Your:

• routines

• relationships

• habits

• identity

Some of it is you.

Some of it is… what you’ve been handed on repeat.

Neither is wrong.

But one is conscious.

Final thought

So yes—I’m still absolutely bopping to Britney.

But now I know:

I’m not dancing alone.

I’ve got:

• my childhood

• my culture

• my people

• and my brain’s obsession with familiar things

all in the car with me.

And honestly?

That doesn’t ruin the joy.

It makes it intentional.

—

Snack-sized sentiments, full-sized feelings. Follow @MoveMakerInc for more everyday chaos and emotional clarity.