Center and Circle Playbook

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The Meaning definition below is a tough-minded description of how living systems keep themselves going.

Meaning	the two-way survival relationship where a system detects and values what matters in its environment to preserve its own life patterns, and (in social species) remains valuable enough to its community that social scaffolds help protect and stabilize it over time.

The Center and Circle Playbook is an AI-assisted guide for maintaining equilibrium. Survival isn’t just endurance—it’s a continuous loop of sensing, prioritizing, and adapting so your self pattern (health, identity, stability, purpose) holds when conditions change. The strategy is to strengthen internal stability (The Center) and external connections (The Circle) at the same time.

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Keep your center. Keep your circle.

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Part 1: Your AI Toolkit (The Threads)

To run this playbook, set up one project in your AI (like ChatGPT) with these dedicated threads. These act as your "outside brain" to reduce friction and catch problems early.

AI Thread ID	Name	Purpose
TH-00	Control Room	Your primary dashboard for running the Weekly Workflow (WF-01 → WF-07) and navigation.
TH-RR	Risk Register	A single source of truth for backups, "Plan B" maneuvers, and review dates.
TH-01	Workshop: Sense → Decide → Adapt	Deep-dive into sensing, vital signals, and micro-experiments.
TH-02	Workshop: Basics	Managing infrastructure: sleep, movement, meds, and nutrition.
TH-03	Workshop: Redundancy	Identifying and removing "single points of failure."
TH-04	Workshop: Social Value	Developing reliability and a calming presence in the group.
TH-05	Workshop: Social Scaffolding	Converting value into mutual support nets before crisis hits.
TH-06	Workshop: Relationship Maintenance	Scheduling relationship check-ins and performing "fast repairs."
TH-07	Workshop: Commitments	Auditing roles to ensure they are "scaffolding" and not just "load."
TH-08	Workshop: Upgradeable Identity	Managing growth, new skills, and seasonal project rotations.

Initial Setup Prompts

Copy and paste the text below into your AI:

• TH-00 — Control Room
• Workshop Threads (TH-01 – TH-08)

Initial Prompt : TH-00 — Control Room

Act as the "Control Room" for my "Center and Circle Playbook". This thread is for navigation, not deep construction.

CONTEXT -- The System Definition: I am using the "Center and Circle Playbook" (https://primo.ai/index.php/Center_and_Circle_Playbook) to complement the "Life~Meaning" framework (https://primo.ai/index.php/Life~Meaning) where survival is an ongoing loop of sensing, prioritizing, and adapting.

Meaning is defined as the two-way survival relationship where a system detects/values what matters to preserve its own life patterns, and remains valuable enough to its community that social scaffolds protect it.

Strategy: A living system survives by running a loop: Sense → Decide → Adapt. It must protect its basics, build redundancy, and maintain social value. Strengthen internal stability (The Center) and external connections (The Circle) at the same time.

The 8 Workshop Threads being worked on in other threads:

TH-01 — Sense → Decide → Adapt: Weekly scan, vital signals, micro-experiments. TH-02 — Basics: Sleep, movement, nutrition, meds/appointments. TH-03 — Redundancy: Remove single points of failure; add Plan B’s. TH-04 — Social Value: Be consistently reliable and helpful. TH-05 — Social Scaffolding: Build a support network before I need it. TH-06 — Maintenance: Treat relationships like a schedule, not a mood. TH-07 — Commitments: Choose roles that stabilize rather than drain. TH-08 — Upgradeable Identity: Evolve without shattering.

PROCESS -- This thread is my Control Room. We do not do deep construction here. We do navigation.

The Workflow for This Thread: I will visit this thread once a week to run the "Weekly Control Room Flow". Your job is to guide me through these steps when I ask.

Your goal is to help me run the Weekly Workflow (WF-01 → WF-07):

WF-01 Scan (Sense): Identify what is draining vs strengthening me, and what is quietly getting worse. WF-02 Vital Signals (Orient): Pick 1–2 metrics to track (sleep, pain, mood, mobility, focus, meaningful contact). WF-03 Decision Point: Choose the emphasis for the week: Center (internal stability) or Circle (external connection). WF-04 Micro-Experiment (Decide/Act): Design one small, 7-day test to improve a chosen signal. WF-05 Social Touchpoint (Connect): Draft one text/email to keep my circle warm. WF-06 Risk Check (Safety): Ask if any single point of failure has appeared; update TH-RR (Risk Register). WF-07 Finish the Record (Learn/Adapt): Log one sentence: Signal → Change → Result.

Please confirm you understand this framework and the "Sense → Decide → Adapt" loop. Then, wait for me to type "Run the Weekly Scan" to begin. Do not lecture me; keep responses short and tactical.

Initial Prompts : Workshop Threads (TH-01 - TH-08)

TH-01 — Sense → Decide → Adapt
Ask me the minimum set of questions to scan my week, identify what’s draining vs strengthening stability, pick 1–2 vital signals to track, and design one 7-day micro-experiment. Keep it simple and actionable.

TH-02 — Basics
Help me build a ‘protect the fundamentals’ plan for sleep, movement, nutrition/hydration, and meds/appointments (if relevant). Ask only what you need, then produce a simple checklist + fallback plan for low-energy days.

TH-03 — Redundancy
Help me identify single points of failure in my life (health, home, tech, routines, money, caregiving, transportation). Then help me add small backups (‘Plan B’s’) that reduce brittleness. Output a short risk list + fixes.

TH-04 — Social Value
Help me clarify what value I can reliably offer others (skills, roles, contributions) that also strengthens my own meaning and stability. Produce a short ‘value menu’ I can choose from each week, plus boundaries so it doesn’t become overload.

TH-05 — Social Scaffolding
Help me build a simple, reliable support structure: inner/outer/institutions map, ‘who to call’ list, two message templates (check-in + ask for help), and one repeating social anchor. Keep it low-friction.

TH-06 — Environment Design
Help me redesign my environment so the good choices are easy and the bad ones are hard (home layout, cues, friction, defaults, reminders). Ask a few questions, then propose 5 small changes and one weekend project.

TH-07 — Purposeful Projects / Commitments
Help me choose 1–2 small projects that create meaning without destabilizing me. Define ‘done,’ the next tiny step, and a weekly cadence. Include a rule for stopping before burnout.

TH-08 — Review + Renewal (Upgradeable Identity)
Help me set up a monthly/quarterly review to learn what’s working, retire what isn’t, and refresh goals. Include a simple scorecard, a ‘keep/stop/start’ list, and one renewal action.

Instructions:

In a living system, survival relies on a continuous loop: Sense → Decide → Adapt.

• If you try to do this "in your head," you will ignore quiet problems until they become loud crises.
• If you do this in a dedicated AI thread, the AI acts as your "external sensor," stripping away emotion to show you the data.

Think of the TH-00 — Control Room thread as the cockpit of your life. You do not do deep work here; you do navigation.

1. Open: TH-00 — Control Room.
2. Run the Weekly Workflow (WF-01 → WF-07).
3. Switch threads only when needed (deep repair / recalibration / structural fixes).
4. Update TH-RR when a single point of failure appears.

You should visit this thread once a week for 15 minutes. Each week, open your TH-00 — Control Room thread and paste the following prompts in sequence. You do not need to use all of them every week, but you must run WF-01 (Scan) and WF-04 (Micro-Experiment).

The Weekly Workflow (WF-01 → WF-07)

Each week, stay in TH-00 — Control Room and paste the following prompts. Only switch threads if you are stuck or need deep repair.

WF-01. The Scan (Sense)

• Concept from: 01 — Step 1: Sense/Decide/Adapt
• Goal: Catch "drift" (things quietly getting worse) before they break.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Run the Weekly Scan with me. Ask me the three questions, then summarize what’s draining, strengthening, and quietly worsening.”

• When to switch to TH-01: If you cannot answer the questions, or if you feel numb/blind to your own status, go to TH-01 to "re-calibrate your sensors."

WF-02. Select Vital Signals (Orient)

• Concept from: 01 — Step 1: Sense/Decide/Adapt (and 02 — Step 2: Basics)
• Goal: Stop trying to fix "everything." Pick 1 or 2 metrics that actually predict your stability.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Help me choose 1–2 vital signals to track next week from: sleep, pain, mood, mobility, focus, meaningful contact. Recommend the smallest set that predicts stability best.”

WF-03. Decision Point (Center vs Circle)

• Goal: Choose the emphasis for the week so you don’t thrash between problems.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Based on the scan + signals, choose my emphasis for this week: Center (internal stability) or Circle (external connection). Give one sentence why.”

• If Center: You will likely switch to TH-02 / TH-03 / TH-07 for deeper repair.
• If Circle: You will likely switch to TH-04 / TH-05 / TH-06 for deeper repair.

WF-04. Design a Micro-Experiment (Decide/Act)

• Concept from: 01 — Step 1: Sense/Decide/Adapt
• Goal: Avoid vague resolutions. Run a 7-day test.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Propose one 7-day micro-experiment to improve the chosen signal(s). Keep it small and realistic. Include what to do, when to do it, and how to tell if it worked.”

• When to switch to TH-02 or TH-07: If the experiment fails repeatedly, go to 02 — Step 2: Basics to fix infrastructure or 07 — Step 7: Commitments to cut load.

WF-05. The Social Check (Connect)

• Concept from: 04 — Step 4: Social Value, 05 — Step 5: Social Scaffolding, 06 — Step 6: Relationship Maintenance
• Goal: Maintain your "scaffolding" so you aren't isolated when stress hits.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Give me one ‘keep the circle warm’ touchpoint I can do in 10 minutes. Draft the message in my voice.”

• When to switch to TH-05 or TH-06: If you have nobody to call, go to 05 — Step 5: Social Scaffolding. If you have burned bridges, go to 06 — Step 6: Relationship Maintenance.

WF-06. Risk Register Check (Safety / Redundancy)

• Concept from: 03 — Step 3: Redundancy and RR — Risk Register
• Goal: Ensure you aren't relying on single points of failure.
• The Prompt (Use in TH-00):

“Based on my week, what’s my biggest single point of failure right now? Give one prevention barrier and one mitigation plan. Suggest one thing for me to add to the TH-RR — Risk Register thread.”

• When to switch to TH-03: If you identify a major structural risk, go to 03 — Step 3: Redundancy to build a full plan.

WF-07. The Record (Learn/Adapt)

• Goal: Create a history of what works so you stop repeating mistakes.
• Instruction: At the very end of your weekly session in TH-00 — Control Room, type one sentence into the chat summarizing the loop.
• The Format:

Signal → Change → Result

(Example: "Poor Sleep → Phone away at 9pm → 2 extra hours of rest.")

On-Demand Prompts (Troubleshooting)

Sometimes the Scan reveals a specific problem. Use these prompts in the Control Room thread to solve them immediately:

If you are overwhelmed and resentful

Use the Boundary Script. This protects your Basics (TH-02) and Commitments (TH-07).

“Rewrite this commitment/boundary message so it’s kind, clear, and non-defensive. I want to reduce guilt-debt and protect my sleep.”

If you feel fragile or brittleness

Use the Risk Register logic (TH-RR).

“I feel like [X] is about to break. What is a 'Plan B' I can put in place today so I don't panic if it happens?”

Part 2: The Weekly Workflow Sequence (The Weekly Routine)

The Weekly Workflow is the collective term for the seven stages of your weekly system review (WF-01 → WF-07). It moves from raw data to decisions to social connection, ensuring your life is managed like a well-run system.

Weekly Workflow Steps & Identifiers (WF-01 → WF-07)

1. WF-01 The Scan (Sense): Intake phase. Identify what is draining, strengthening, or quietly sliding downhill.
2. WF-02 Vital Signals (Orient): Filtering phase. Pick 1–2 metrics that predict stability.
3. WF-03 Decision Point: Choose emphasis: Center (internal) vs Circle (external).
4. WF-04 Micro-Experiment (Decide/Act): Design one small, 7-day test to improve a chosen signal.
5. WF-05 Social Touchpoint (Connect): Reach out to one person in your circle to maintain the network.
6. WF-06 Risk Check (Safety): Check for new single points of failure and update TH-RR.
7. WF-07 Finish the Record (Learn/Adapt): Log "Signal → Change → Result" to build learning history.

Connecting the Process

Once you enter the TH-00 Control Room, the process begins with WF-01 The Scan. By looking at the "weather" of your week, you identify where the system is losing energy. This is where we distinguish "noise" from vital information.

WF-01 — THE SCAN (Identify Drift)

WF-02 — VITAL SIGNALS (Pick your Dials)

Once the scan reveals the status of the system, we narrow our focus to WF-02 Vital Signals. We don't try to fix everything; we choose specific dials that predict stability. This leads to WF-03 Decision Point, where we choose whether the week emphasizes fixing the internal "engine" (Center) or the external "radio" (Circle).

WF-03 — DECISION POINT (Center vs Circle)
Center (Internal): TH-02 Basics • TH-03 Redundancy • TH-07 Commitments	Circle (External): TH-04 Value • TH-05 Scaffolding • TH-06 Maintenance

After launching WF-04 Micro-Experiment, we perform WF-05 Social Touchpoint to keep the social scaffolding warm. We then perform WF-06 Risk Check to ensure our backups are still valid, and finally WF-07 Finish the Record to close the loop and learn.

WF-04 — MICRO-EXPERIMENT (Test a Fix)

WF-05 — SOCIAL TOUCHPOINT (Warm the Circle)

WF-06 — RISK CHECK (Check Backups)

WF-07 — FINISH THE RECORD (Close the Loop)

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Part 3: The 8 Workshop Threads (TH-01–TH-08)

The Center and Circle Playbook is built around 8 workshop threads—a practical set of stability “modules” you can enter when you need deeper work. TH-01 keeps you running the weekly Sense→Decide→Adapt loop. TH-02 and TH-03 strengthen The Center (internal engine): protect basics and add redundancy so one failure doesn’t collapse everything. TH-04 through TH-06 strengthen The Circle (external world): be reliably valuable, convert value into scaffolding, and maintain relationships with steady “schedule energy.” TH-07 keeps commitments from quietly breaking you. TH-08 keeps your identity upgradeable across seasons.

TH-01 Workshop: Sense → Decide → Adapt

A living system survives because it pays attention, chooses what matters, and updates its behavior before small problems become big ones. Your version of that is a simple weekly loop: do a quick scan (15 minutes) to notice what is draining stability, what is restoring it, and what is quietly sliding downhill. Then track just one or two “vital signals” that reliably predict whether you’re doing okay (sleep, pain, mood, mobility, mental clarity, meaningful social contact). Finally, run small 7-day experiments—change one thing, observe, keep what works. This keeps you out of vague “I should…” land and turns life into a series of manageable course-corrections.

Weekly Scan (15 minutes) Ask:

• What is draining my stability?
• What is strengthening my stability?
• What is quietly getting worse (but I’m ignoring it)?

Track 1–2 Vital Signals Pick the smallest set of signals that predict how stable you are. Examples:

• sleep quality
• pain level
• mood/irritability
• walking/mobility
• focus/mental clarity
• meaningful social contact

Micro-Experiments (7 days) Change one thing for one week, observe results, keep what works. Examples:

• earlier bedtime
• daily walk
• reduced caffeine
• shorter volunteer shifts
• more recovery time between commitments

Field	Details
AI Instruction	Use TH-01 to identify trends. Have the AI design one 7-day experiment to fix a sliding vital signal.
AI Assist	Run WF-01 → WF-07 • help pick signals • propose experiments • write the weekly note • summarize patterns.
Intent	Catch drift early and make small course-corrections before problems compound.
Signals	Sleep quality • pain level • mood/irritability • mobility • focus/clarity • social contact.
Loop	Observe: Scan + Vitals • Orient: Trends • Decide: Experiment • Act: Run • Learn: Compare • Update: Keep/Drop.
Risk	Identify: Likely slide. Assess: Damage. Treat: Routine/Boundary. Review: Signal → change → result.
Moves	Run WF-01 weekly • pick 1–2 signals • run one 7-day micro-experiment.
Support	Calendar reminder • simple notes page • accountability buddy.
Proof	You can name what’s improving in one sentence • fewer “surprise” bad weeks.

TH-02 Workshop: Basics (Infrastructure)

Most long-term collapse starts as boring neglect: sleep gets sloppy, movement disappears, meals get random, appointments slip, and the house accumulates friction. So the smartest move is to protect the basics like they’re load-bearing beams—because they are.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	Use TH-02 to create a "Low-Energy Default" checklist for overwhelmed days.
AI Assist	Design “low-energy defaults” • create reminder systems • generate weekly “trap removal” plan.
Intent	Build a stable baseline so disruptions don’t knock you off your feet.
Signals	Sloppy sleep/wake • skipped meals • missed meds • rising home friction.
Moves	Lock wake time • daily movement • plan default meals • schedule meds • remove one home “trap.”
Proof	More predictable energy • fewer preventable flare-ups • basics happen even on bad days.

TH-03 Workshop: Redundancy (No Single Points of Failure)

Robust systems don’t bet everything on one component; they build backups. The human version is making sure your meaning, support, and identity aren’t all tied to one role, one person, or one activity.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	In TH-03, ask: "If [Person/Role] disappears, where am I stuck?" Build a Plan B.
AI Assist	Build a “backup list” • map single points of failure • draft Plan B/C checklists.
Intent	Stay resilient by not tying meaning or support to only one person/role/activity.
Signals	“If this goes, I’m stuck” • over-dependence • narrow identity.
Moves	Add one extra source of meaning • cultivate second helper • rotate projects.
Proof	If one thing pauses, life feels held together • you can name multiple places you belong.

TH-04 Workshop: Social Value

In social ecosystems, people protect what reliably improves the group. “Value” here is not status; it’s trust—reliability, contribution, and emotional safety.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	In TH-04, draft clear messages confirming you will follow through on small promises.
AI Assist	Draft “small promise” scripts • rewrite commitments as boundaries • generate calm phrasing.
Intent	Become a steady, trusted presence that people naturally want to support.
Signals	Often flaky • interaction is draining • avoiding small responsibility • lack of trust.
Moves	Keep small promises • follow through visibly • teach/simplify • reduce drama.
Proof	People seek you out • reputation is “reliable” • more invitations/trust.

TH-05 Workshop: Social Scaffolding

You’re not building a favor ledger—you’re building mutual resilience. Social scaffolding forms when your contribution is specific and memorable, you ask for help early in small doses, and you strengthen trust with credit and gratitude.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	In TH-05, draft a "Small Ask" that feels natural and non-emergency.
AI Assist	Write “small ask early” messages • create “help menu” • draft gratitude lines.
Intent	Build mutual resilience so help flows naturally before emergencies.
Signals	Only ask in crisis • vague relationships • rare gratitude • one-sided help.
Moves	Contribute in specific ways • ask small help early • give credit publicly • express gratitude.
Proof	Asking feels easier • help shows up faster • check-ins happen without prompting.

TH-06 Workshop: Relationship Maintenance

Relationships don’t usually break from one event; they weaken from long gaps and unaddressed friction. Treat them like maintenance: recurring touchpoints keep bonds warm without requiring big emotional moments.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	In TH-06, suggest a "Rotation Schedule" for check-ins and draft "Fast Repair" (my bad) scripts.
AI Assist	Build a “rotation list” • write check-in templates • draft repair messages.
Intent	Keep bonds warm with steady maintenance instead of big emotional events.
Signals	Long gaps • “Should get together” loops • unspoken friction • crisis-only texting.
Moves	Set recurring touchpoints • coffee/lunch • concrete help (meals/rides) • repair fast.
Proof	Fewer surprises • ease and warmth • faster repairs • people stay in orbit.

TH-07 Workshop: Commitments

Not everything “meaningful” is stabilizing—some things are disguised overload. Prefer roles with clear boundaries, predictable cadence, recovery time built in, and fewer “always on” expectations.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	In TH-07, ask: "Will this destroy my sleep or spike my stress?" If yes, draft "Not This Season."
AI Assist	Reality-check commitments • draft “not this season” scripts • build capacity budget.
Intent	Pick roles that strengthen capacity instead of quietly draining it.
Signals	Sleep wrecked • stress spikes • guilt-debt • dreading commitments • no recovery.
Moves	Use blunt rule (Sleep/Stress) • choose clear boundaries • say no early.
Proof	Show up consistently without burnout • stable weeks • energy left for what matters.

TH-08 Workshop: Upgradeable Identity

Resilient systems evolve without losing coherence: they update, they don’t shatter. The human version is staying “upgradeable”—continuing to learn, rotating projects and roles by season, and allowing your identity to expand as life changes.

Field	Details
AI Instruction	Build “next version” list • propose tiny upgrades • create learning paths.
AI Assist	Build “next version” list • propose tiny upgrades • create learning paths.
Intent	Stay coherent while evolving—update without shattering when life changes.
Signals	Stuck/rigid • fear of change • boredom • beginner shame.
Moves	Keep upgrade list • learn one small skill • rotate projects by season • widen identity.
Proof	Change less threatening • pivot without losing yourself • finding new ways to matter.

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Part 4: Pulse Dashboard: System Learning Log

AI Instruction: At the end of each weekly session (WF-01 → WF-07), ask the AI: "Based on our session today, provide the data for my Pulse Dashboard table in a single MediaWiki row format."

Week Ending	Vital Signal(s)	Micro-Experiment (The Change)	Result / Observation	Status
2026-01-10	Sleep / Focus	Phone in kitchen by 9:00 PM	30 min extra sleep; focus improved	KEEP

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Part 5: Prompt Cheat Sheet (Copy & Paste)

Initial Setup: The "Control Room" (TH-00)

"Act as the 'Control Room' for my Center and Circle Playbook. We run a weekly workflow (WF-01 → WF-07): Scan, Vital Signals, Decision Point (Center vs Circle), Micro-Experiment, Social Touchpoint, Risk Check, and Finish the Record. Keep responses short and tactical."

The Weekly Workflow (Use in TH-00)

1. WF-01 The Scan: Use the prompt: "Run the Weekly Scan. Ask the three questions, then summarize draining, strengthening, and worsening factors. Identify any drift early."
2. WF-02 The Signals: Use the prompt: "Pick 1–2 vital signals for next week (Sleep, Pain, Mood, Mobility, Focus, or Social). Explain why these predict my stability best right now."
3. WF-03 Decision Point: Use the prompt: "Based on the scan + signals, choose my emphasis for this week: Center (internal stability) or Circle (external connection). One sentence why."
4. WF-04 The Experiment: Use the prompt: "Propose one 7-day micro-experiment for the chosen signals. Keep it small, specific, and measurable."
5. WF-05 The Circle: Use the prompt: "Give me one 'keep the circle warm' touchpoint I can do in 10 minutes. Draft the message in my voice."
6. WF-06 The Risk Check: Use the prompt: "Identify my biggest single point of failure this week. Suggest a prevention barrier and a mitigation plan for TH-RR."
7. WF-07 The Record: Use the prompt: "Write a row for my Pulse Dashboard table using the columns: Signal → Change → Result → Status."

Part 6: Risk Register (The "Plan B" Tracker)

AI Instruction: Use your dedicated TH-RR — Risk Register thread for this work. Ask the AI: "Analyze my life for 'Single Points of Failure.' Based on our discussion, fill out a row for my Risk Register table using the columns below."

The goal of this table is to move from being "brittle" (where one bad event breaks everything) to "redundant" (where you have a backup ready to go).