The article "You can try to like stuff," published in August 2025 on Dynomight.net, explores the idea of deliberately trying to like things you initially dislike as a way to better understand human nature and improve enjoyment in life. The author proposes a simple two-step hobby: take something you don’t like and try to like it. Key reflections include: 1. Experiencing cultural appreciation — The author recounts a day in Paris around Michael Jackson’s death, realizing the local enthusiasm led to a newfound appreciation of his music. 2. Overcoming ingrained dislikes — Using cooked spinach as an example, the author reveals how childhood experiences and associations, rather than intrinsic qualities, often shape dislikes. By consciously creating positive mental narratives (e.g., imagining monks offering a special vegetable dish), dislikes can be softened or reversed. The author successfully applied this technique to various foods, music, and activities like yoga and Studio Ghibli movies. 3. Limits of changing preferences — Despite efforts, some tastes (like country music) remain hard to adopt fully. The author notes that subconscious influences and cultural programming limit how much one truly wants to like certain things versus just wanting to want to like them. 4. Misconceptions of self — Sometimes people mischaracterize their own likes or dislikes, such as the author’s long-held but inaccurate claim to like raisins, highlighting how self-concept can be flawed. 5. Struggles with media consumption — The author admits to being a demanding TV snob who finds most shows unwatchable despite seeking entertainment, illustrating that some preferences are deeply ingrained or objectively difficult to change. 7. Appreciation of circumstances — The article closes with reflections on pilot announcements encouraging passengers to "enjoy the ride" on flights, emphasizing that while situations may be suboptimal, much of one’s experience is shaped by internal mental framing. Some people genuinely enjoy uncomfortable scenarios by choosing different perspectives. Overall, the piece suggests that liking things can often be a mental exercise, revealing insights about identity, culture, and psychology. The habit of "trying to like" can expand enjoyment and illuminate the complex relationship between preferences and self-perception—though some tastes remain stubbornly resistant to change. The website also offers subscription options via email, RSS, or Substack, and includes various related posts on topics such as travel, gratitude, procrastination, health, and productivity. Readers are encouraged to share errors or comments through integrated forms and external platforms like Lemmy and Substack.