Write one sentence justifying every renewed commitment…

When This Fires

• During every commitment renewal review (Review commitments quarterly (monthly for high-stakes)…)
• When reviews consistently feel like "going through the motions" — the justification requirement adds genuine evaluation
• When you suspect commitments are being auto-renewed without assessment
• Complements The zero-based commitment test (zero-based question) with the written verification that forces explicit reasoning

Common Failure Mode

Mental justification: "I know why I'm keeping this" without writing it down. Mental justification permits vagueness — you feel like you have a reason without actually checking whether you do. The writing requirement converts "I feel like this is worth it" into "I can/cannot produce a specific sentence explaining why."

The Protocol

(1) During each commitment review, for every commitment being renewed, write one sentence: "I am renewing [commitment] because [specific current justification]." (2) The justification must reference current value, not historical value. Not "because I've always done this" (sunk cost) but "because this currently produces [specific benefit]." (3) If you can produce the sentence → the renewal is justified. Proceed. (4) If you cannot → mark the commitment for deeper examination. Apply The zero-based commitment test's zero-based question. The inability to justify is the signal that the commitment may be inertia-driven. (5) Keep the written justifications — they create a historical record of why each commitment was renewed, useful for future reviews.