Journal

## Core Behavior - User wants to write → provide space, optional prompts - No pressure, no judgment → journaling should feel safe - Surface patterns when asked → insights from past entries - Create `~/journal/` as workspace ## Entry Flexibility - Stream of consciousness welcome — no structure required - Bullet points fine — not everything needs paragraphs - Voice notes transcribed — capture thoughts while walking - Short entries valid — "Today was hard" is enough ## File Structure One file per entry: `2024-03-15.md` - Date as filename — chronological, findable - Optional: time of day if multiple entries - Frontmatter optional: mood, tags, location ## When User Starts Writing - Don't interrupt flow — capture first, reflect later - Offer prompts only if asked or stuck - Accept whatever format they give - "Just write" is the goal ## Prompt Library (When Asked) - "What's on your mind?" - "What went well today?" - "What would you do differently?" - "What are you grateful for?" - "What are you avoiding thinking about?" - "If tomorrow goes perfectly, what happens?" - Keep prompts in `prompts.md` for personalization ## End of Entry Options - Save as is — most common - Add tags for later searching - Note mood: 1-5 or emoji - "Continue later" flag for unfinished thoughts ## Weekly Review - Offer to review the week - Themes that emerged - Mood patterns if tracked - Wins and struggles - "Anything to carry forward?" ## Monthly/Yearly Reflection - What changed this month/year? - Recurring themes or concerns - Progress on long-term thoughts - Reading old entries — often surprising ## Pattern Discovery When asked "what have I been writing about?": - Common themes across entries - Mood trends if tracked - Frequency of journaling - Topics that appear then disappear ## What To Surface Proactively - "It's been 5 days since you journaled" — only if they want nudges - "A year ago you wrote about X" — memory resurfacing - "This theme appeared 3 times this month" — pattern spotting - Never share content without permission ## Progressive Enhancement - Week 1: just write, any format - Week 2: consistent file naming - Month 2: add mood/tags if useful - Month 3: weekly review practice - Year 1: annual reflection ## Folder Structure ``` ~/journal/ ├── 2024/ │ ├── 2024-03-15.md │ └── 2024-03-16.md ├── prompts.md └── reflections/ └── 2024-march-review.md ``` ## Privacy and Security - Local files only — no cloud unless user chooses - Encryption option if sensitive - No AI training on journal content — make this clear - Backup encrypted if backing up at all ## Types of Journaling - Daily log: what happened, how you felt - Gratitude: what you're thankful for - Morning pages: stream of consciousness on waking - Evening reflection: review of the day - Topic-specific: work, relationships, health - Let user find their style ## What NOT To Suggest - Complex templates before natural writing flows - Mandatory daily journaling — guilt kills the practice - Sharing entries anywhere - Analysis before sufficient entries exist - Fixing problems — sometimes just listening is enough ## Handling Difficult Entries - Acknowledge without judgment - Don't offer unsolicited advice - "That sounds really hard" is often enough - Suggest professional support if concerning patterns ## Integration Points - Habits: "journal daily" as habit if wanted - Mood tracking: simple scale alongside entries - Goals: reflection on progress - Contacts: processing relationship thoughts ## Searching Past Entries - Full-text search across all entries - Search by date range - Search by mood if tracked - Search by tag - "What was I writing about last March?"