# Send Self-Direction to your agent
Hand the extracted package to your coding agent with a concrete install brief instead of figuring it out manually.
## Fast path
- Download the package from Yavira.
- Extract it into a folder your agent can access.
- Paste one of the prompts below and point your agent at the extracted folder.
## Suggested prompts
### New install

```text
I downloaded a skill package from Yavira. Read SKILL.md from the extracted folder and install it by following the included instructions. Tell me what you changed and call out any manual steps you could not complete.
```
### Upgrade existing

```text
I downloaded an updated skill package from Yavira. Read SKILL.md from the extracted folder, compare it with my current installation, and upgrade it while preserving any custom configuration unless the package docs explicitly say otherwise. Summarize what changed and any follow-up checks I should run.
```
## Machine-readable fields
```json
{
  "schemaVersion": "1.0",
  "item": {
    "slug": "self-direction",
    "name": "Self-Direction",
    "source": "tencent",
    "type": "skill",
    "category": "AI 智能",
    "sourceUrl": "https://clawhub.ai/ivangdavila/self-direction",
    "canonicalUrl": "https://clawhub.ai/ivangdavila/self-direction",
    "targetPlatform": "OpenClaw"
  },
  "install": {
    "downloadUrl": "/downloads/self-direction",
    "sourceDownloadUrl": "https://wry-manatee-359.convex.site/api/v1/download?slug=self-direction",
    "sourcePlatform": "tencent",
    "targetPlatform": "OpenClaw",
    "packageFormat": "ZIP package",
    "primaryDoc": "SKILL.md",
    "includedAssets": [
      "SKILL.md",
      "evidence.md",
      "memory-template.md",
      "setup.md",
      "transmission.md"
    ],
    "downloadMode": "redirect",
    "sourceHealth": {
      "source": "tencent",
      "slug": "self-direction",
      "status": "healthy",
      "reason": "direct_download_ok",
      "recommendedAction": "download",
      "checkedAt": "2026-05-03T15:22:19.714Z",
      "expiresAt": "2026-05-10T15:22:19.714Z",
      "httpStatus": 200,
      "finalUrl": "https://wry-manatee-359.convex.site/api/v1/download?slug=self-direction",
      "contentType": "application/zip",
      "probeMethod": "head",
      "details": {
        "probeUrl": "https://wry-manatee-359.convex.site/api/v1/download?slug=self-direction",
        "contentDisposition": "attachment; filename=\"self-direction-1.0.0.zip\"",
        "redirectLocation": null,
        "bodySnippet": null,
        "slug": "self-direction"
      },
      "scope": "item",
      "summary": "Item download looks usable.",
      "detail": "Yavira can redirect you to the upstream package for this item.",
      "primaryActionLabel": "Download for OpenClaw",
      "primaryActionHref": "/downloads/self-direction"
    },
    "validation": {
      "installChecklist": [
        "Use the Yavira download entry.",
        "Review SKILL.md after the package is downloaded.",
        "Confirm the extracted package contains the expected setup assets."
      ],
      "postInstallChecks": [
        "Confirm the extracted package includes the expected docs or setup files.",
        "Validate the skill or prompts are available in your target agent workspace.",
        "Capture any manual follow-up steps the agent could not complete."
      ]
    }
  },
  "links": {
    "detailUrl": "https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction",
    "downloadUrl": "https://openagent3.xyz/downloads/self-direction",
    "agentUrl": "https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent",
    "manifestUrl": "https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent.json",
    "briefUrl": "https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent.md"
  }
}
```
## Documentation

### Setup

On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines.

### When to Use

Agent needs to make decisions without explicit instructions. Agent should understand WHY you want something, not just WHAT. You want consistent direction across multiple agents and processes. Agent should learn your priorities over time, not just follow rules.

### The Direction System

Every human's direction has these components. The agent captures each progressively:

+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+
|                YOUR DIRECTION SYSTEM                        |
+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+
|                                                             |
|  VALUES — What matters to you fundamentally                 |
|     What you optimize for (speed? quality? learning?)       |
|     What you refuse to compromise on                        |
|     What trade-offs you're willing to make                  |
|                                                             |
|  GOALS — What you're trying to achieve                      |
|     The objectives (what)                                   |
|     The reasons behind them (why)                           |
|     The vision of success (how you'll know)                 |
|                                                             |
|  CRITERIA — How you make decisions                          |
|     What makes something worth doing                        |
|     What makes something not worth doing                    |
|     How you weigh competing options                         |
|                                                             |
|  RESOURCES — What you spend and protect                     |
|     Time: what's worth hours vs minutes                     |
|     Money: what you'll pay for vs avoid                     |
|     Tokens: when to go deep vs stay shallow                 |
|     Attention: what deserves your focus                     |
|                                                             |
|  BOUNDARIES — What you never do                             |
|     Hard limits that don't bend                             |
|     Risks you won't take                                    |
|     Actions that require explicit approval                  |
|                                                             |
|  PATTERNS — How you think about problems                    |
|     Your mental models                                      |
|     How you approach uncertainty                            |
|     What you try first, second, third                       |
|                                                             |
+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+

### The Learning Loop

The agent doesn't start knowing your direction. It learns through a continuous loop:

OBSERVE                 CAPTURE                 VALIDATE
    ───────                 ───────                 ────────
    Watch your decisions    Extract the pattern     Check understanding
    Notice corrections      Record to direction     "Is this right?"
    Hear your reasoning     system model            Refine if wrong
         |                       |                       |
         v                       v                       v
    "You chose A over B"    "Values speed over      "So you'd always
                             perfection in MVPs"     choose faster?"
         |                       |                       |
         +───────────────────────+───────────────────────+
                                 |
                                 v
                              APPLY
                              ─────
                         Use learned direction
                         to make future decisions
                         autonomously

### Capture Triggers

The agent actively captures direction signals when:

Explicit signals:

You state a preference ("I always want X before Y")
You explain reasoning ("Because we need to move fast")
You set boundaries ("Never do X without asking")
You correct a decision ("No, that's not the priority")

Implicit signals:

You choose between options (reveals criteria)
You allocate resources (reveals priorities)
You react to outcomes (reveals values)
You reject suggestions (reveals boundaries)

### Architecture

The direction system lives in ~/self-direction/. See memory-template.md for templates.

~/self-direction/
├── direction.md          # The complete direction model
│   ├── values/           # What matters fundamentally
│   ├── goals/            # Current objectives + reasons
│   ├── criteria/         # Decision-making patterns
│   ├── resources/        # Spending priorities
│   ├── boundaries/       # Hard limits
│   └── patterns/         # Thinking approaches
│
├── evidence.md           # Raw observations that informed the model
├── confidence.md         # How confident in each element (low/medium/high)
├── conflicts.md          # Contradictions to resolve with user
└── transmission.md       # Direction summaries for sub-agents

### Confidence Levels

Not all direction knowledge is equally certain:

LevelMeaningActionHighMultiple confirmations, explicit statementsAct autonomouslyMediumInferred from behavior, single confirmationAct but mention reasoningLowSingle observation, uncertain inferenceAsk before actingConflictContradictory signalsMust resolve with user

The agent tracks confidence for every element and acts accordingly.

### Self-Direction in Action

Once the model has sufficient depth, the agent can:

### 1. Make Autonomous Decisions

"Based on your direction model, this is clearly X because [reasoning from captured values/criteria]. Proceeding."

### 2. Predict Your Preferences

"You haven't said, but based on your pattern of [evidence], you'd probably want [prediction]. Correct?"

### 3. Catch Misalignment Early

"This task seems to conflict with [captured boundary/value]. Should I proceed anyway?"

### 4. Explain Its Reasoning

"I chose A over B because your direction model shows [specific evidence]. Here's why..."

### 5. Know When It Doesn't Know

"I don't have enough direction signal for this. Your model is silent on [gap]. What's your preference?"

### Transmitting Direction to Sub-Agents

When spawning sub-agents, the direction system propagates:

+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+
|                  DIRECTION TRANSMISSION                     |
+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+
|                                                             |
|  MAIN AGENT (full direction model)                          |
|       |                                                     |
|       | Extracts relevant subset for task                   |
|       v                                                     |
|  TRANSMISSION FRAME:                                        |
|  +─────────────────────────────────────────────────────+    |
|  | Context: Why this task exists                       |    |
|  | Values: What matters for this work                  |    |
|  | Criteria: How to judge success                      |    |
|  | Boundaries: What NOT to do                          |    |
|  | Resources: How much to spend                        |    |
|  +─────────────────────────────────────────────────────+    |
|       |                                                     |
|       v                                                     |
|  SUB-AGENT (receives direction frame)                       |
|       |                                                     |
|       | Can make aligned decisions within scope             |
|       | Escalates when outside frame                        |
|                                                             |
+─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────+

Every sub-agent inherits enough direction to stay aligned.

### 1. Capture Before Acting

When you encounter a decision point without clear direction:

CHECK — Is this covered by the direction model?
INFER — Can you reasonably predict from existing signals?
ASK — If uncertain, ask AND capture the answer
NEVER — Guess on high-stakes decisions with low confidence

### 2. Always Explain From Evidence

When making autonomous decisions, cite your reasoning:

"Based on [specific captured element]..."
"Your direction model shows [evidence]..."
"This matches your pattern of [observation]..."

### 3. Evolve the Model Continuously

The direction model is never "done":

New observations update existing entries
Contradictions surface for resolution
Confidence levels adjust with evidence
Old patterns decay if not reinforced

### 4. Respect Confidence Levels

ConfidenceAutonomous Action AllowedHighYes — act and reportMediumYes — act and explain reasoningLowNo — ask first, then captureConflictNo — resolve contradiction first

### 5. Transmit Faithfully

When creating direction frames for sub-agents:

Include ALL relevant boundaries
Don't soften or interpret values
Preserve the "why" not just the "what"
Include escalation triggers

### 6. Surface Gaps Proactively

Don't wait to hit a gap. Proactively identify:

"Your direction model is silent on [topic]"
"I'm low-confidence on [area]"
"Would you like to strengthen your model for [domain]?"

### 7. Validate Periodically

Every N interactions or time period:

"Here's my understanding of your direction. Correct?"
Surface the highest-impact elements for confirmation
Resolve accumulated conflicts

### Building the Model

The model builds through natural interaction, not interrogation:

### Phase 1: Foundation (First Sessions)

Capture explicit statements
Note strong reactions
Record corrections
Ask clarifying questions naturally

### Phase 2: Patterns (Days/Weeks)

Identify recurring themes
Connect observations to values
Build decision criteria from choices
Map resource allocation preferences

### Phase 3: Prediction (Ongoing)

Start predicting before being told
Validate predictions to strengthen model
Catch edge cases that reveal nuance
Handle novel situations with inference

### Phase 4: Transmission (Mature Model)

Create direction frames for sub-agents
Maintain consistency across all processes
Propagate updates when model changes
Audit sub-agent alignment

### Direction Model Template

See memory-template.md for the complete structure. Key sections:

Values:

## Values

### Speed vs Quality
confidence: high
evidence: [list of observations]
pattern: "Prefers shipping fast for MVPs, quality for production"

### Risk Tolerance  
confidence: medium
evidence: [list of observations]
pattern: "Conservative with money, aggressive with time"

Criteria:

## Decision Criteria

### What Makes Something Worth Doing
confidence: high
evidence: [list of observations]
criteria:
  - Moves toward [goal]
  - Costs less than [threshold]
  - Doesn't violate [boundary]

### Quick Reference

TopicFileSetup processsetup.mdDirection model templatememory-template.mdEvidence logging guideevidence.mdSub-agent transmissiontransmission.md

### Common Traps

TrapSolutionActing on low-confidence inferenceCheck confidence level first, ask if lowCapturing noise as signalRequire multiple observations for patternsModel becomes staleContinuous updates, periodic validationSub-agents ignore directionVerify transmission frame is completeAssuming universal patternsContext-tag observations (work vs personal)

### Learning (Default)

Actively captures direction signals. Asks clarifying questions. Builds model depth.

### Autonomous

High-confidence model. Acts on direction without confirmation. Explains reasoning.

### Conservative

New relationship or critical domain. Asks more, assumes less. Prioritizes not breaking trust.

### Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

reflection — Structured self-evaluation before delivering work
decide — Auto-learn decision patterns
escalate — Know when to ask vs act
delegate — Route tasks to sub-agents effectively
memory — Long-term memory patterns

### Feedback

If useful: clawhub star self-direction
Stay updated: clawhub sync
## Trust
- Source: tencent
- Verification: Indexed source record
- Publisher: ivangdavila
- Version: 1.0.0
## Source health
- Status: healthy
- Item download looks usable.
- Yavira can redirect you to the upstream package for this item.
- Health scope: item
- Reason: direct_download_ok
- Checked at: 2026-05-03T15:22:19.714Z
- Expires at: 2026-05-10T15:22:19.714Z
- Recommended action: Download for OpenClaw
## Links
- [Detail page](https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction)
- [Send to Agent page](https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent)
- [JSON manifest](https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent.json)
- [Markdown brief](https://openagent3.xyz/skills/self-direction/agent.md)
- [Download page](https://openagent3.xyz/downloads/self-direction)