They say that poetry is like a mirror that reflects our innermost thoughts and emotions. Poetry, Robert Frost says, is “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” And according to Emily Dickinson, “It is a reaching-out toward expression; an effort to find fulfillment.” This “effort to find fulfillment” is what leads us to the path of self-discovery and personal growth.

From the beginning of time, poetry have been used by man to express emotions like love, hate, joy, and fear. Writing them down helps make sense of them while reading them inspires and/or comforts us. In the words, acoustics, and image of a poem, we find solace and peace and clarity.

Whether it is writing a poem or reading one, poems helps us understand our feelings better, which is the first step in our self-discovery and personal growth journey.

Self-discovery involves exploring our emotions so as to gain a deep understanding  of our own selves—that is, our values, needs, and purpose of life. It is in exploring our inner self that we discover who we truly are (our guiding core values and principles) and what we truly want (our hope and dreams as well as our purpose in life).

Self-reflection and self-awareness, both guided by poetry, lead to self-discovery.

When we are able to know and understand our selves better through self-discovery, we are then able to take the steps, or actions, necessary for our personal growth. We begin to develop ourselves and become the best versions of ourselves, and then we can say, “I am being all I am and all that I am meant to be.”

Incorporating poetry into our lives then is essential for self-discovery and personal growth. Maja Todorovic of Business in Rhyme has the following suggestions of how we can use poetry for such purposes:

• Select about five to ten inspirational poems that you like. These poems should really speak to your heart and are aligned with your personal goals and what you want to achieve in life.
• Write them down in a notebook. For the words of the poem to enter your subconscious, you need to write them down. You are giving life to the words. You are actually creating new experience while connecting with the words in a meaningful way. Also, if you have any new idea or comment that comes to your mind while reading the poems, you can write down.
• To motivate yourself, find your own inspirational meaning to the poems you have selected. Read the poems slowly, absorbing them, if you will. When you find most suitable interpretation behind the poet’s words that is motivational for you, you will be more open to what writer is trying to tell you. You will then pave your own road toward achieving your self-development and personal growth goals.
• Develop your own affirmations that are inspired by your selected poems. Affirmations are powerful way for us to take action as it shifts our thoughts patterns. We are more inclined to make intentional positive change when we repeat positive affirmations consistently and daily.

Here is how Manisha Venkatesan incorporates poetry in her daily life that we can all follow:

• Start with short poems. They give out little pieces of wisdom that we can easily incorporate into our daily routine. Only then can we dive into the epic poems.
• Begin your day with a dose of poetry. Instead of engaging in social media, spend a few minutes reading a poem. Let its words set the tone for the day ahead. Make this as a morning ritual.
• Reflect on these poems and write down your thoughts in a journal. If there is a line that resonated with you or inspired a feeling in you, writing them down solidify your understanding and connection with the poem.
• Take short poetry breaks during your workday. Just as you take coffee breaks, poetry breaks is a good way to reset your mind and boost creativity. So step away from your desk, find a quiet corner, and immerse yourself in a poem.
• Wind down and end your day on a peacefully by reading poetry before bedtime. Let the gentle rhythm of the words soothe your mind and lull you into a restful sleep.

So take the first step toward your personal growth journey and incorporate poetry into your daily routine. Then watch your life gets transformed just as you envisioned it.

Sources:

Mcquillan, Susan. “How Poetry Can Change Your Life.” Last modified November 9, 2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cravings/202311/how-poetry-can-change-your-life.

Todorovic, Maja. “How to Use Poetry as a Self-development Tool.” Last modified April 30, 2016.