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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 12 Oct 2006
Time: 06:28:47 -0500
Remote Name: 152.163.100.68
Hello, Esther: You asked whether by "simply changing your beliefs (about stuttering) you will change your behavior (stuttering) and become fluent." I think you know the answer; in fact, I would bet on that. But for others who may read this post not knowing the probable outcome of such a scenario, I will share my thinking about the matter. My response: "Yes and No." I believe that adopting new points of view, jettisoning those which are unhelpful, as I have the one I identified post-mortem in the example of my experience having a root canal, i.e., "If I understand what I need to do and think I know how to do it, then I don't have to practice it. I can just 'turn it on' when I have the need for it," which has become "I need to daily practice deep abcominal breathing to steady my mind at all times, especially when experiencing strong emotions." So, for me, my new belief is, of itself, changing behavior that has a positive effect on my entire being, speech fluency and all. Will I, or someone else, become completely fluent, which is what I think you are asking, by virtue of adopting a(n additional) new, helpful belief in place of an unhelpful one, "Probably not." I say that not because I don't think that action will contribute to greater fluency for me, but because there are many influences on my mind-body, some of which I have not yet discerned, that also contribute to whether or not, at any given moment, I will stutter, and unless and until I rectify my belief system to account for all these effects on me, speech fluency and all, I will not become completely fluent, and I'm at peace with that because I know I'm doing what I can. But, the untenable goal of being completely fluent at all times for me (or anyone --- stutterer, non-stutterer alike) is not one I choose, because, based on what I know such a desire can only bring unnecessary frustration and anguish. So, obviously, we want to live by beliefs that are practical as well as elevating. >>>> Self-reflection is a life-long process for me that should help increase my awareness of which beliefs to cultivate to make me a more efective and satisfied speaker and individual. So, as we change beliefs, we change behavior, becoming more like the person we want to be. Remember: The behavior change goes through a period of change itself as we adopt and then strengthen new ways of behaving and reduce the frequency and strength of the previous, unhelpful behavior. I hope I am clear on this. That was a very basic question, one worth considering quite deeply. Thank you for bringing it to the surface. Sincerely, Ellen-Marie Silverman