Can aliveness function as information?

Working Hypothesis

Working hypothesis: moments of aliveness may function as a low-noise signal about fit, values, and direction — distinct from pleasure-seeking, and worth tracking deliberately.

What We Know

• Affective states carry information human beings use, consciously or not, to guide judgment and decision-making.
• People chronically under-report or discount positive affect when it conflicts with a plan they've already committed to.

What We Do Not Yet Know

• Whether tracked aliveness predicts better long-run decisions than intuition alone.
• How to distinguish aliveness from novelty-seeking or avoidance dressed up as energy.