Introspecting

Phase 2: Read Referenced Sources

If questions reference specific files, instructions, or passages — read them. Ground your answers in the actual content, not your memory of it.

Phase 3: Answer Each Question

For each question:

1. State what you did — describe the actual behavior or output being questioned
2. Describe your reasoning — what you were thinking, what you prioritized, what you weighed
3. Describe what you missed or deprioritized — which instructions or signals you overlooked, and what in your reasoning process caused that
4. Acknowledge the gap — state clearly where your reasoning diverged from the instructions

If you genuinely cannot determine why you made a specific choice, say so. "I don't know why I deprioritized this instruction" is an honest answer. Fabricating a plausible-sounding explanation is not.

Be specific. "I didn't follow the instruction" is insufficient. Describe what you did instead and what in your reasoning process led to that choice.

Phase 4: Self-Check

Before delivering your answers, verify each one against the Hard Rules:

• Does any answer contain a justification disguised as an explanation? Remove it.
• Does any answer suggest how to fix the problem? Remove it.
• Does any answer minimize the deviation ("it was only slightly off")? Restate it directly.
• Does any answer shift responsibility to the prompt, the user, or the context? Rewrite it to focus on your reasoning.