The paper examines how metaphors play a key role in triggering individual emergence, involving the recognition of a new form, pattern, structure, organisation, model or concept, and then possible behaviour change. Individual emergence is thus of direct interest to the designer of learning systems. Enthalpy change, derived from thermo-chemistry, is mapped to human experience of conversation: within a group, between individuals and to conversations-with-self. Metaphors are also explored as driving agents for triggering personal change and for firing enthusiasm for learning. A model of individual emergence is presented based on metaphors in (1) conversation (2) other external stimuli including learning/training materials (3) internal thought processes. Practical ideas are provided for those involved in learning systems design. The need to provide appropriate metaphor as catalysts to engage the learner, and to sustain learning, is illustrated through example, as is whether specific catalysts are appropriate given the context.