Vibe Index
🎯

self-initiated-triggers

🎯Skill

from flpbalada/my-opencode-config

VibeIndex|
What it does

Designs internal emotional triggers that transform external prompts into self-motivated product engagement, enhancing user retention and habit formation.

πŸ“¦

Part of

flpbalada/my-opencode-config(40 items)

self-initiated-triggers

Installation

πŸ“‹ No install commands found in docs. Showing default command. Check GitHub for actual instructions.
Quick InstallInstall with npx
npx skills add flpbalada/my-opencode-config --skill self-initiated-triggers
Need more details? View full documentation on GitHub β†’
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AddedFeb 4, 2026
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Skill Details

SKILL.md

Overview

# Self-Initiated Triggers - From External Prompts to Internal Motivation

Self-Initiated Triggers (Internal Triggers) are emotional states or situations

that prompt users to engage with a product without any external reminder. They

represent the goal state of habit formation - when users think of your product

automatically in response to specific feelings or contexts.

When to Use This Skill

  • Designing for long-term retention
  • Reducing dependency on push notifications
  • Building sustainable engagement loops
  • Understanding user motivation patterns
  • Creating products that become "default" solutions
  • Reducing user acquisition costs through organic return

Core Concepts

External vs. Internal Triggers

```

External Triggers Internal Triggers

(Pushed to user) (Pulled by user)

| |

v v

+-------------+ +-------------+

| - Push | | - Boredom |

| notif | Journey | - Anxiety |

| - Email | -----------> | - FOMO |

| - Ads | | - Loneliness|

| - WOM | | - Curiosity |

+-------------+ +-------------+

| |

v v

Expensive Free

Interruptive Seamless

Declining effect Strengthening

```

The Trigger-Product Association

```

Emotion/Situation Product Association

| |

v v

"I feel bored" --> "I'll check Instagram"

"I have a question" --> "I'll Google it"

"I feel anxious" --> "I'll check Slack"

"I'm waiting" --> "I'll open TikTok"

```

Trigger Types

| Trigger | Emotion | Example Products |

| --------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |

| Negative | Boredom, anxiety, loneliness, FOMO | Social media, news, messaging |

| Positive | Curiosity, excitement, anticipation | Learning apps, games |

| Situational | Waiting, commuting, winding down | Podcasts, reading apps |

| Routine | Morning, mealtime, bedtime | News, meditation, fitness |

Building Internal Triggers

```

Phase 1: External Trigger

"We sent you a notification"

|

v

Phase 2: Association Forming

Repeated: Trigger β†’ Action β†’ Reward

|

v

Phase 3: Internal Trigger Emerging

Emotion alone triggers action

|

v

Phase 4: Automatic Habit

No conscious thought needed

```

Analysis Framework

Step 1: Identify Target Emotions

Research questions:

  • What emotional state precedes product use?
  • What are users feeling when they reach for the product?
  • What situation or context triggers engagement?

| User Segment | Primary Emotion | Secondary Emotion | Context |

| ------------ | --------------- | ----------------- | ------------ |

| [Segment 1] | [Emotion] | [Emotion] | [When/Where] |

| [Segment 2] | [Emotion] | [Emotion] | [When/Where] |

Step 2: Map Current Trigger Mix

```

External Triggers Internal Triggers

[_____________________] [_____________________]

80% 20%

Target state:

[_____________________] [_____________________]

30% 70%

```

Step 3: Design Trigger Strengthening

| Strategy | Implementation |

| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------ |

| Repeated pairing | Consistent context β†’ action β†’ reward |

| Emotional resonance | Design for target emotion |

| Ritual creation | Encourage routine usage |

| Social reinforcement | Others validate the behavior |

Step 4: Measure Trigger Strength

| Metric | Weak Trigger | Strong Trigger |

| -------------------------------- | ------------ | -------------- |

| Return frequency without prompts | Low | High |

| Time to return after absence | Long | Short |

| Usage without notifications | Rare | Common |

| Self-reported "automatic" use | Never | Often |

Output Template

```markdown

Internal Trigger Analysis

Product: [Name] Date: [Date]

Target Internal Trigger

Primary emotion: [Emotion] Trigger context: [Situation when emotion

occurs] Desired association: "When I feel [emotion], I [product action]"

Current State

| Engagement Type | % of Sessions |

| ------------------------ | ------------- |

| Push notification driven | [X%] |

| Email driven | [X%] |

| Self-initiated | [X%] |

User Research Findings

Interview insight 1: "[Quote about when/why they open the product]"

Interview insight 2: "[Quote about emotional state]"

Trigger Strengthening Plan

| Strategy | Action | Expected Outcome |

| ------------ | ----------------- | ---------------- |

| [Strategy 1] | [Specific action] | [Metric impact] |

| [Strategy 2] | [Specific action] | [Metric impact] |

Success Metrics

| Metric | Current | Target | Timeframe |

| --------------------------- | ------- | ------ | --------- |

| Self-initiated sessions | [X%] | [Y%] | [Months] |

| Return without notification | [X%] | [Y%] | [Months] |

```

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Twitter/X

Target emotion: Boredom + need for stimulation Association built: "I

have a spare moment β†’ I'll check Twitter"

Mechanisms:

  • Variable reward (always new content)
  • Quick dopamine hits
  • FOMO reinforcement
  • Endless scroll removes end point

Example 2: Slack

Target emotion: Anxiety about missing information Association built: "I

feel out of the loop β†’ I'll check Slack"

Mechanisms:

  • @mentions create urgency
  • Channel activity visible
  • "Unread" counts create incompleteness
  • Professional FOMO

Example 3: Duolingo

Target emotion: Guilt + achievement desire Association built: "I should

be productive β†’ I'll do a lesson"

Mechanisms:

  • Streak creates obligation
  • Short lessons fit spare moments
  • Progress visualization rewards
  • Guilt as internal trigger (healthy or not)

Ethical Considerations

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Triggers

| Aspect | Healthy | Unhealthy |

| --------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------- |

| Emotion exploited | Curiosity, growth desire | Anxiety, loneliness, FOMO |

| User outcome | Feels better after use | Feels worse or unchanged |

| Sustainability | Long-term satisfaction | Short-term with regret |

| Control | User feels in control | User feels compelled |

Design for Wellbeing

  • Target positive emotions where possible
  • Ensure product delivers on emotional promise
  • Provide usage awareness tools
  • Allow notification customization
  • Design satisfying end points

Best Practices

Do

  • Research actual emotional triggers (don't assume)
  • Design reward to match the emotional need
  • Create consistent context-action pairings
  • Make first action extremely simple
  • Measure self-initiated engagement separately

Avoid

  • Relying solely on external triggers long-term
  • Exploiting negative emotions irresponsibly
  • Breaking user trust with manipulative patterns
  • Ignoring the emotional aftermath of use
  • Designing without usage boundaries

Integration with Other Methods

| Method | Combined Use |

| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------ |

| Hooked Model | Internal triggers are the goal state |

| Fogg Behavior Model | Trigger is the T in B=MAT |

| Jobs-to-be-Done | Emotional jobs are internal triggers |

| Loss Aversion | Fear of loss as internal trigger |

Resources

  • [Hooked - Nir Eyal](https://www.nirandfar.com/hooked/)
  • [The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg](https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X)
  • [Atomic Habits - James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits)

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