The Inner Operating System: How Our Mind Chooses Between Feedforward and Feedback Control

 Have you ever paused mid-task and thought—"Why am I even doing this?"

Not in a dramatic, existential kind of way, but genuinely. Why do we follow certain instructions without question, while in other moments, we reflect, adjust or completely change course?

That’s your mind’s control philosophy at play.

And yes, just like a machine, we all run on defined and complex operating systems—some conscious, many subconscious.

🧠 The Operating System Inside 

Call it your mental software, your internal wiring, your life GPS—every human has an inner control system. It tells you how to act, how to react, how to communicate, how to survive, how to grow.

Broadly, it swings between two poles:

1. Feedforward Control – Straight-line, no questions asked.

2. Feedback Control – A living, breathing loop of learning.

Now, before this sounds like a robotics manual, let’s get real.

🛣️ Feedforward: The Blind Roadmap

Imagine this.

You're told to follow a plan. Step-by-step. No detours. No doubts. You just do it.

Sounds efficient, right? And it is. In some places.

Think of military drills. Emergency protocols. Even strict parenting styles. They all run on feedforward logic: Input → Action → Done.

But here’s the catch...No room for reflection means no room for growth.

That’s the flaw. When you never ask why, you never know if it’s right for you.

And if you're raised in an environment—home, school, even society—where questioning is seen as rebellion, your ability to evolve gets stunted. The timing of questioning is important!

You become a follower in a world that needs Leaders.

🔄 Feedback: The Intelligent Loop

Now flip the switch.

You try something. You observe the outcome. You tweak. Try again. Adjust. Learn. Grow.

That’s feedback control in motion.

It’s messy, sure. Imperfect. Full of mistakes. But wow, it is real.

Children raised with encouragement to ask why, students taught to question, employees invited to share feedback—they build resilient, adaptable minds.

They don’t just follow life’s path. They co-create it.

🧬 Which One to Use?

Actually… both. We all do.

But the dominant system to rely on depends on:

• 📜 Sanskar – inherited beliefs, cultural values, childhood learning and conditioning.

• 🏠 Family setup – authoritarian or collaborative.

• 🌍 Society – suppressive or expressive.

• 🧗‍♂️ Stage of life – each phase calls for a hybrid system.

Let’s walk through them.

👶 Childhood: Feed Me Commands

Childhood is mostly feedforward. Parents, teachers, elders—you’re told what to do and how.

And that’s okay. At this stage, safety and discipline matter.

But…If the child is never allowed to ask, wonder or fail—they grow up smart but not wise.

They follow but don’t feel. They obey but don’t own. The decision-making power is subdued.

🧑‍🎓 Youth: The Awakening of Feedback

Then comes freedom. College. First job. Life on your terms.

Suddenly, feedback matters and takes the frontline.

You mess up a project. Learn to accept and apologize. Get dumped. Learn to listen. Break a rule. Face the consequence. This is where the inner loop starts forming. Every mistake becomes data. Every choice becomes a checkpoint. If you’re open to learning, you evolve. If not, you repeat cycles.

💼 Adulthood: The Balancing Act

Here’s where it gets tricky.

You’re working, parenting, navigating society. You crave clarity—so you might default to feedforward (just follow the process, check the box).

But deep down, something itches. A voice says: This doesn’t feel right.

That’s feedback trying to speak.

The wisest adults are those who still listen—to feedback from others and from within.

⏳ Midlife: When the System Overloads (and Reboots)

Ever hit that age when achievements feel empty? When you wonder, Is this it?

That’s your inner operating system overloaded and breaking down. Too much data to handle! Resisting change.

You question things you once believed blindly. You reevaluate friends, habits, careers. You crave something deeper—meaning. This is where the true feedback loop begins.

Pain becomes a teacher. Reflection becomes a tool. And growth… becomes soulful.

🧓 Elderhood: Feedback With No Listeners

The final stage. You’ve lived. Learned. Grown.

You carry libraries of wisdom, but there’s a problem—nobody’s listening.

The younger generation thinks it knows better. The modern age Paradox!

But even if feedback isn't received, elders still give—through stories, presence, silence and blessings.

The cycle continues. Quietly. Beautifully.

📊 The PDCA of Human Life

In the world of quality management, there's a powerful model:

Plan → Do → Check → Analyse.

It’s feedback control in its purest form.

• Plan your life (dreams, goals, timelines).

• Do what it takes.

• Check outcomes—honestly.

• Analyse to act again, based on what you’ve learned.

Some people skip "Check"—and stay stuck.

Some ignore "Analysis"—and repeat mistakes.

But those who embrace all four—they master the art of becoming.

🤖 Wait… Will AI Change All This?

Good question. AI can process faster. Offer insights. Simulate feedback.

But here's the truth:

No technology can replace the human will to listen, reflect, and grow.

The loop still belongs to you. Your choices. Your Sanskar. Your spirit.

💡 Final Thought: Tune Your Inner System

So, what are you running on today?

• Are you blindly executing someone else's plan?

• Or are you reflecting, revising, re-aligning?

Maybe it’s time to update your software. Develop a Resilient mind to become.

You just need awareness and acceptance.

Just a few tweaks.

Just curiosity.

Because the real evolution begins when…

You stop running on commands and start living on consciousness.

Disclaimer:

The ideas and perspectives shared in this blog are intended for general awareness, reflection and self-development. They are drawn from philosophical, psychological and personal observations and do not represent medical, psychological or professional advice. Readers are encouraged to apply their own judgment and seek professional guidance where necessary. The concepts of feedforward and feedback control are used metaphorically to explain human behavioral patterns and are not to be interpreted as strict scientific theories in the context of engineering or neuroscience.