Shifting ‘c.m.i.’ (cannot make it) to ‘Can Make I.T.’ (can make ideas together) through letter writing and exchange— Sharon Sng

This article describes the use of writing and exchanging letters to invite and strengthen people’s preferred stories of themselves, and to reduce the influence of a failure or ‘c.m.i.’ (cannot make it) identity. These double-storied letters articulate a person’s insider knowledge about responding to unhelpful expectations about achieving ‘success’ in life. The letter exchanges offer people opportunities for collective healing as they link their stories about dealing with a problem, supporting a ‘Can Make I.T.’ (can make ideas together) identity and thickening preferred stories.