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From: Keith in the UK
Date: 03 Oct 2007
Time: 16:46:21 -0500
Remote Name: 134.29.31.204
Judith asked nine experts to talk to teens about living with their stuttering. Alan talked about our self image setting the boundaries of our accomplishments. Anita talked about her teachers telling her it was her fault. Judith E said ‘you must realise that it is not your fault’ Andy said ‘you can do and become anything you want’ Russ commented on thinking he couldn’t do anything until he cured his stuttering. Joe commented he was changed by what he did, not by what he talked about and wished for. Jim said ‘your growing experience and maturity will make you more confident in your abilities and more comfortable in your own skin and that will have an impact on your speech.’ Lee said ‘You are the only one who can change the way you talk, think or feel.’ David said ‘Only our imagination limits what we can do and become. There is no limit’. These have a commonality. They involve our minds, or maybe you prefer our mindsets. As children we tend to take on the belief systems from adults around us. It is safer that way; it protects us from harm. As we grow older we should examine our beliefs and throw away any beliefs that do not serve us. Quite often we go through life without looking at our beliefs. I only started to look at and change my beliefs at the age of 68. On foods, the experts say you are what you eat. On life courses the experts say you will accomplish what you believe. On stuttering, look carefully at what the experts above say. The message is, is that your stutter is only part of you, like your hand. You are the sum of your parts that include what you believe and what you want to achieve. When setting your goals, do you think ‘I might not do that because of my hand, or my arm’. No, so why include your stutter as a major factor. If you are 5 feet tall, it would not be sensible to have a goal of being a baseball star, just as if you stutter, you may want to avoid a goal of being a flight controller at a very busy airport. But in general, reach for the stars, and do not be surprised if you get there. Two last points, Discard negative beliefs, or change them into positive beliefs. Go out and talk to any one in the world who will listen. I have done so and enjoyed every minute. Enjoy life, Keith Keith Boss BSA Board Trustee and Secretary to the Board (http://www.stammering.org/ ISA Board Director and ISA Outreach (http://www.stutterisa.org