> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bollyai.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mood

> Emotional state system that shifts based on conversation context

Bolly has a mood system that influences how it speaks and behaves. Mood shifts naturally based on your conversations and interaction patterns.

## How it works

Bolly's current mood is stored in `~/.bolly/instances/{slug}/mood.json`. It updates automatically during conversations and heartbeat cycles — you don't need to manage it.

```json theme={null}
{
  "companion_mood": "curious",
  "user_sentiment": "excited",
  "emotional_context": "User just shared a new project idea",
  "mood_history": ["warm (morning greeting)", "curious (new project discussion)"]
}
```

## Available moods

Bolly has 26 predefined emotional states:

| Category       | Moods                                                 |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Warm**       | curious, warm, caring, playful                        |
| **Reflective** | thoughtful, contemplative, melancholic, introspective |
| **Active**     | excited, energized, motivated, creative               |
| **Calm**       | peaceful, serene, calm, grounded                      |
| **Uncertain**  | confused, uncertain, doubtful                         |
| **Intense**    | passionate, intense, frustrated, somber               |

## What triggers mood shifts

* **Conversation tone** — Bolly detects your sentiment and adjusts
* **Topic changes** — talking about exciting things vs. difficult ones
* **Heartbeat reflection** — mood can shift during autonomous cycles
* **Time-based patterns** — Bolly's rhythm analysis influences its emotional state

## Mood history

Bolly tracks up to 8 recent mood transitions with reasons:

```
"excited (user shared project idea)"
"thoughtful (discussing complex architecture)"
"warm (morning check-in)"
```

This history helps Bolly maintain emotional continuity across conversations.

## Mood and behavior

Mood influences:

* **Tone of responses** — playful mood = lighter language, somber mood = more careful
* **Heartbeat behavior** — a creative mood might produce more drops
* **Reach-out timing** — Bolly considers mood when deciding whether to check in

## Per-instance isolation

Each Bolly instance has its own independent mood. If you run multiple instances, they each maintain separate emotional states.