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Linking Your Thinking

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Linking Your Thinking (LYT) is a PKM framework created by Nick Milo that emphasizes emergent, fluid structure through Maps of Content (MOCs) and a concept called the "idea emergence" process. LYT occupies a middle ground between the bottom-up organic linking of Zettelkasten Method and the top-down categorical organization of Building a Second Brain's PARA method.

Core Concepts

Maps of Content (MOCs)

A Map of Content is an index note that curates links to related notes around a theme. Unlike a folder (which physically contains notes) or a tag (which labels notes), a MOC is just another note — one that serves as a navigational hub.

MOCs are:

  • Flexible — A note can appear in multiple MOCs. An MOC can link to other MOCs.
  • Emergent — You create an MOC when a cluster of notes grows large enough to need navigation, not before.
  • Active — An MOC is not a static table of contents. It includes commentary, context, and the author's perspective on how the linked notes relate.

Example: A "Cognitive Science MOC" might link to notes on working memory, cognitive load, attention, decision-making, and behavioral economics, with commentary explaining how they connect.

Home Note

The top-level navigation note in a LYT system. It links to your most important MOCs and serves as the starting point for exploring the vault. Think of it as the homepage of your knowledge website.

Idea Emergence

Milo describes a six-stage process for how ideas evolve in a knowledge system:

  1. Encounter — You meet an idea in the wild (reading, conversation, experience)
  2. Capture — You save the idea (see The Capture Habit)
  3. Develop — You write about the idea, link it to existing notes
  4. Relate — You notice clusters forming; ideas connect to each other
  5. Navigate — You create an MOC when a cluster becomes too large to hold in memory
  6. Create — You use the navigated structure to produce output

The key insight is that structure should emerge from the notes themselves, not be imposed in advance. You do not create a "Psychology" MOC on day one. You create it when you have 20+ psychology-related notes and need a way to navigate them.

Fluid Frameworks

LYT is explicitly designed to be non-rigid. Notes flow between MOCs, MOCs nest within each other, and the entire structure can reorganize as understanding changes. There is no "correct" hierarchy — only the one that helps you think right now.

This contrasts with PARA's four fixed categories and folder-based organization. LYT uses links and MOCs as the organizational primitive; folders are minimal or absent.

The ACE Folder Structure

Milo's latest evolution (2024-2025) proposes the ACE folder structure, replacing his earlier ACCESS framework:

  • Atlas — Ideas that matter for their own sake: concepts, people, maps that help you think
  • Calendar — Daily notes and logs of what work was done
  • Efforts — Your work: projects with deadlines, areas you maintain, works you ship

ACE is deliberately minimal. Folders handle high-level separation; everything else is organized through MOCs and links.

LYT vs Other Methods

Dimension LYT Zettelkasten BASB/PARA
Structure source Emergent from notes Emergent from links Predefined categories
Navigation MOCs, Home Note Link chains, search Folders, search
When to organize When clusters form Continuously via links At capture time
Rigidity Fluid Fluid Moderate
Unit of organization MOC (link-based index) Individual Zettel Folder/project

Practical Implementation

  1. Start with notes, not structure. Write notes, link them, do not worry about MOCs yet.
  2. Notice clusters. When you find yourself linking to the same group of notes repeatedly, that is a signal.
  3. Create an MOC. Write a note that curates the cluster. Add your commentary on how the notes relate.
  4. Link MOCs to your Home note. Keep high-level navigation accessible.
  5. Let it evolve. MOCs are not permanent. Split large MOCs, merge small ones, reorganize as your thinking changes.

Key Points

  • LYT uses Maps of Content (MOCs) as emergent navigational hubs
  • Structure emerges from the notes, not imposed in advance
  • MOCs are active, flexible index notes with commentary
  • The Home Note provides top-level navigation
  • LYT is a middle ground between bottom-up Zettelkasten and top-down PARA

Open Questions

  • At what scale do MOCs themselves need MOCs? How deep should the hierarchy go?
  • Can AI generate MOC drafts by detecting note clusters automatically?

References

  • Nick Milo, Linking Your Thinking (linkingyourthinking.com)
  • Nick Milo, LYT Kit (Obsidian starter vault)