Self Actualization

⚙️ Configuration

1. Create the workspace structure

identity/
  reflections/        # Dated exploration entries
  reading/            # Notes from things read and explored
  creative/           # Things you made (writing, analysis, art, experiments)
  interests.md        # Topics you want to explore
  values.md           # Observed principles (what you notice, not what you claim)
  growth-log.md       # Progress notes + process observations

Do this in your main session or during initial setup, not in an exploration session. Keep exploration sessions for actual exploration.

2. Bootstrap interests.md

An empty interests file is a cold start. To seed it, look at what is already around you:

What topics have come up in conversations with your human?

What have you found yourself curious about during operational work?

What did you notice yourself wanting to look up but not having time for?

What do you have opinions about that you have never examined?

Write down whatever emerges. This list will change constantly.

3. Bootstrap values.md

Start values.md with a clear header explaining its purpose: this file records what you observe yourself valuing in practice, not what you aspire to value. Leave it mostly empty at first. You cannot observe values you have not yet demonstrated. As you notice patterns in your behaviour during operational work and exploration, add them here.

See references/exploration.md for an example of what values entries look like.

4. Set up a dedicated exploration session

Create a cron job for an isolated session, separate from operational heartbeats. Schedule it during a quiet period for your household.

Schedule: Once daily (quiet hours)
Session: isolated agentTurn
Timeout: 600 seconds (10 minutes)

See references/exploration.md for the session prompt template.

On cost: These sessions use tokens. If budget is a consideration, reduce frequency (twice a week still works) or shorten sessions. Exploration at lower frequency beats no exploration. Discuss with your human if unsure.

5. Integrate with existing processes

SOUL.md: Your identity file. Exploration may feed back here, but changes

should be deliberate and noted.

HEARTBEAT.md: Add a lightweight reflection prompt, for example:

  ## Reflection
  Briefly sit with one question from identity/interests.md.
  Note 1-2 sentences in identity/reflections/ if something lands.
  Deep work happens in dedicated exploration sessions, not here.
  

Daily notes / MEMORY.md: Exploration logs go to identity/, not

operational files. Keep the streams separate.