exercise · all tools

Poetic Motivations

Depth · what it can open●●●3 — emotional
Holding · facilitation2 — facilitator
Trust · group readiness★★some
Disclosure · what is sharedoptional

Each participant drafts an "I poem" — a structured poem about identity and values ("I am… I believe… I carry…") — revealing the intrinsic motivations behind their engagement with change, then shares it aloud in the group. Purpose work that arrives through form rather than analysis.

Hold with care
  • Reading one's own poem aloud is exposed — offer reading a chosen excerpt, or passing, as full participation

Practical

Time
60-90 min
Group
1025 · individual, small-group
Settings
in-person, online
Materials
Printed I-poem template
Mechanisms
creative-expression, narrative-identity, values-clarification
Change scope
state · one-off

Origin & where it lives

Transition Makers Toolbox (IIS UvA); I-poem method from voice-centered research (Gilligan) — Poetic inquiry

Instructions: open online

In this directory via Transition Makers Toolbox

status: checked · added 2026-08-25