⭐ Session 1 — IDENTITY FOUNDATION (2 Hours)
Purpose of Session 1:
To help learners begin their Purpose Accelerator journey by building a clear, grounded picture of who they are today — their strengths, motivations, behavioural patterns, and emerging identity themes. This foundational clarity becomes the “compass point” for all future weeks (Purpose Signals, Direction Discovery, Decision-Making, Capability Mapping, etc.).
🎯 Session 1 at a Glance (Summary Table)
| Section | Learning Focus | Deliverables | Practice GPTs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Motivational Drivers | What energizes me? | Drivers List | IK-Love, IK-Needs, EI-Goal Alignment |
| 2. Strengths & Skills | What am I good at? | Skills Map | SA-Skills Assessment, JS-Strengths Identifier, Achievement Companion |
| 3. Patterns | How do I show up? | Pattern Snapshot | EI-Self Awareness, EI-Self Regulation, CT-Root Cause Finder |
| 4. Identity Profile | Who am I today? | Draft Identity Profile | IK-Statement, JS-Career Path Planner, ST-Socratic Tutor |
🔷SECTION 1 — Motivational Drivers Assessment (0:10–0:30))
Learning Goal:
Learners will identify their top motivational drivers and connect each driver to a real-life example.
Expanded Description:
Students explore what energizes and motivates them, uncovering the “why” behind their choices.
They will learn to:
- Recognize what conditions help them feel alive, effective, and engaged
- Articulate 3–5 personal drivers (e.g., autonomy, mastery, purpose, stability, belonging)
- Provide real examples that show how each driver has appeared in their life
- Begin noticing how their drivers influence decisions and satisfaction
Example:
- Driver: Autonomy
- Example: “I work best when I can choose how to structure my study time.”
Deliverables (with examples):
Deliverable 1 — Motivational Drivers List
Students produce a short list of 3–5 core drivers with a description and example.
Example Entry:
- Purpose: “I feel energized when I work on something meaningful, like volunteering at community events.”
- Belonging: “I learn best when working in supportive groups.”
Activities:
1. Mini Warm-Up (2 min)
Prompt:
“Think of a moment recently when you felt energized — what were you doing?”
2. Motivational Drivers Exploration (10 min)
Instructor introduces a list of drivers: Autonomy, Mastery, Stability, Creativity, Purpose, Belonging, Recognition, Challenge, etc.
3. Ranking Exercise (8 min)
Students pick top 3 and write one example for each.
4. Pair Share or Quiet Reflection (5 min)
Students reinforce understanding by articulating what motivates them.
Practice GPTs (max 3):
EI-Goal Setting with Emotional Alignment GPT
Clarifies emotional motivations behind choices.
IK-Love GPT
Helps identify energizing and passion-based drivers.
IK-Needs GPT
Connects inner motivations to meaningful causes or needs.
🔷 SECTION 2 — Strengths & Skills Mining (0:30–0:55)
Learning Goal:
Learners will identify their strengths and transferable skills across multiple life contexts.
Expanded Description:
Students uncover the skills they’ve gained across school, work, family responsibilities, volunteer roles, and personal hobbies.
They will learn to:
- Recognize strengths that come naturally
- Identify transferable skills (e.g., time management, empathy, leadership)
- Connect each skill to real life actions
- Describe strengths in professional language
Example:
- Strength: Problem-solving
- Skill: Planning
- Example: “I organized carpool schedules for my family to make sure my siblings got to activities on time.”
Deliverables (with examples):
Deliverable 2 — Strengths & Skills Map
Students produce a categorized strengths inventory.
Example Entries:
- Strength: Empathy
- Skill: Active listening
- Context: “I’m often the person friends come to when something is bothering them.”
- Strength: Leadership
- Skill: Delegation
- Context: “During a group project, I divided tasks to match team members’ strengths.”
Activities:
1. Strengths Brainstorm (5 min)
Prompt:
“Where do people rely on you most?”
2. Skills Across Contexts Worksheet (15 min)
Break down skills from:
- School
- Jobs
- Family roles
- Hobbies
- Volunteering
- Overcoming challenges
3. Example Mapping (5 min)
Students match each strength to one real example.
Practice GPTs (max 3):
- SA-Skills Assessment GPT
Core tool for structured skills discovery across 13 categories. - JS-Strengths Identifier GPT
Helps articulate strengths clearly with language support. - Achievement Companion GPT
Extracts hidden strengths from personal achievements and moments of pride.
🔷 SECTION 3 — Pattern Recognition Circle (1:05–1:30)
Learning Goal:
Learners will identify recurring emotional, behavioural, and thinking patterns that shape their decisions.
Expanded Description:
Students reflect on how they show up in different situations — especially under stress, in groups, or during uncertainty.
They will learn to:
- Identify repeated reactions (e.g., avoiding conflict, taking control, procrastinating)
- Recognize emotional patterns
- Understand how these patterns influence relationships, choices, and outcomes
- Start connecting patterns to earlier strengths and drivers
Example Pattern:
“When conversations get tense, I shift into problem-solving mode too quickly and sometimes miss people’s emotions.”
Deliverables (with examples):
Deliverable 3 — Pattern Snapshot
A short reflection describing 3 recurring patterns.
Example Entry:
- “I take the lead when things are unclear.”
- “I shut down when I feel criticized.”
- “I get energized when brainstorming new ideas.”
Activities:
1. Prompt Questions (5 min)
- “What situations energize you?”
- “What situations drain you?”
- “What reactions show up over and over?”
2. Pattern Identification (10 min)
Students list 3 recurring patterns in thoughts, actions, or emotions.
3. Optional Pair Discussion (10 min)
Guided questions to deepen the reflection.
Practice GPTs (max 3):
CT-Root Cause Finder GPT
Helps students understand why certain patterns keep repeating.
EI-Self Awareness Builder GPT
Great for naming emotional and behavioural patterns.
EI-Emotional Self-Regulation Coach GPT
Helps surface reaction patterns under stress.
🔷 SECTION 4 — Draft Identity Profile Workshop (1:30–2:00)
Learning Goal:
Learners will assemble a first-draft identity profile integrating strengths, drivers, and patterns.
Expanded Description:
Students synthesize everything from Sections 1–3 into a coherent identity narrative that captures:
- Who they are
- What motivates them
- How they behave and respond
- Where their strengths shine
- What conditions help them thrive
This is the key deliverable that becomes the “launch pad” for Week 2.
Example Identity Statement:
“I’m someone who thrives on autonomy, communication, and purposeful work. I tend to take initiative when things feel unclear. I’m motivated by meaningful contributions and strong connections with others.”
Deliverables (with examples):
Deliverable 4 — Draft Identity Profile
A short, structured summary including:
- Top strengths
- Transferable skills
- Motivational drivers
- Behavioural patterns
- Draft identity statement
Example Entry:
“My top strengths are problem-solving, empathy, and adaptability. My strongest skills include planning, listening, and coaching others. I’m motivated by autonomy, learning, and meaningful work. I’ve noticed I take charge when there’s ambiguity and become quiet when there’s conflict. My identity statement: I am someone who creates clarity, supports others, and works best in environments where I can grow and contribute.”
Activities:
1. Synthesis Worksheet (10 min)
Students combine strengths, drivers, and patterns.
2. Draft Identity Statement (10 min)
Instructor prompts:
“Imagine explaining yourself to someone who wants to support your future — how would you describe who you are?”
3. Optional Peer Feedback (5 min)
Students share one line of their identity statement with a partner.
Practice GPTs (max 3):
- IK-Statement GPT
Ideal for combining the four Ikigai quadrants — excellent synthesis tool. - JS-Career Path Planner GPT
Helps students refine the statement with a future focus. - ST-Socratic Tutor GPT
Supports deeper reflection through Socratic questioning.
Supplemental Materials: