JUNE 10, 2024
Strategy 6:
Self-Discovery
We turn inward with Strategy 6: Self Discovery, one of the most foundational yet often overlooked aspects of preparing for parole. Before anyone else can believe in your transformation, you must first understand who you are, beyond your crime, beyond your sentence, and beyond the survival roles you once played. Self discovery isn’t just about insight into what you did; it’s about uncovering the deeper truths of why you did it, how you’ve changed, and who you’re becoming. This strategy invites applicants to face themselves honestly and begin building a life rooted in clarity, purpose, and accountability.
Strategy 6 – Self Discovery invites the reader to examine who they are beneath the life crime, the trauma, and the survival patterns. The Board isn’t just looking for rule-followers—they’re looking for people who have done the deeper work of understanding what drives their choices. This strategy emphasizes the importance of separating your identity from your criminal past and embracing the often painful process of honest self-examination. Through journaling, therapy, group participation, and reflection, applicants are encouraged to become students of their own inner world.
Notes
This strategy centers on the idea that lasting change requires an internal shift. It challenges applicants to go beyond surface-level compliance and into honest exploration of their past, triggers, and thought patterns. Self-discovery work should result in clear insight into causative factors, not just general remorse. The more deeply someone knows themselves, the better equipped they are to break harmful cycles and show up authentically at a hearing.
Recap & Takeaways
Self discovery is not optional, it’s essential. This strategy reinforces that suitability depends on more than programming or clean time; it depends on internal transformation. The Board is looking for applicants who have reflected on their past with honesty and can explain the why behind their change. It’s not about perfection, it’s about truth, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.
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Each week, we break down a chapter from 36 Strategies of Suitability and explain why it matters.
