Part 2 different user name (posting difficulties)

Part 2 different user name (posting difficulties) Becoming conscious of the antecedents and cues allowed me to decisively pinpoint the negative behavior inducing stimuli, while allowing for a more identifiable directed plan of action. In order to lose the negative cues associated with these antecedents, I knew I must take steps to relieve the associated anxiety. I stopped my avoidance pattern accompanying self-introduction, as practicing the negative behaviors is the only way to produce change in that specific behavior. A fielder in baseball does not practice catching a football to become a fielder, he practices fielding, and likewise I practiced self-introduction. Although I still block during self-introduction, the anxiety level during the process has decreased and I do not go out of my way to avoid this action. When in the spotlight, I have been using the breathing techniques I have learned at speech therapy to help relieve anxiety. I now have a plan for when I am placed in the feared antecedent. Having a plan allows for decreased apprehension and anticipatory anxiety, as I am not as fearful for the potential of the stutter, as I now I have plan, thus disassociating the negative cue of the antecedent. Ultimately, I gained trust in myself as a speaking being. A vital step in this self-direction project was the self-contract. This contract is your self-agreement to follow the steps that lead to your ultimate goal; the termination of your negative behavior. My ultimate goal is to fully accept who I am and be able to move forward confidently projecting my true self identity, not fearful of the next time I might stutter. In reaching your goal it is almost inevitable that a relapse will occur. The contract asks you to write down your plan of action when and if a relapse occurs. Relapses can be either be self-destructive or confidence building. I believe that if you can get past your relapse, it helps you prove to yourself that you have a working plan for the reoccurrence of the negative behavior. If you do not have a plan, you can very easily fall back in to your old habits and lose all of the progress you worked so hard to gain. My contract included if/then statements that discussed steps in relapse prevention, as well as implementation of rewards. Examples of if/then statements that I utilized in reinforcing positive behaviors include: If I don’t avoid situations in which I have to introduce myself, I will reward myself with one game of FIFA 2013 vs my suitemate DJ. If I don’t self-induce the inhibition of my speech for a full day, I will then reward myself with 20 minutes of the harmonica. In addition to reinforcing the positive behavior I desired, I also became better at the harmonica and quite the FIFA 13 player… Rewarding your self is much more useful than punishment, as it can reinforce positive behaviors, while punishment does penalize you for the negative behaviors, but does not reinforce positive behaviors like rewards can. Rewards are desirable and if you begin associating rewards with certain behaviors, it will reinforce the occurrence of that positive behavior. Punishment may be useful in addition to rewards, but on its own doesn’t not provide the positive reinforcement rewards do. The main strength of the self-directed behavior modification for me was the habitual monitoring of the negative behavior. I was forced to view myself in a negative light, which ultimately inspired me to transform my behaviors into more positive entities. The daily observations helped me to stay focused on change, as each night I would reminisce on the day and analyze my behavior from both a negative and positive standpoint. As the semester went on, the negative behaviors began decreasing and the positive behaviors began to increase. This is evidence of positive change that resulted from my persistent desire to renovate my life and find my path. By putting myself out there and not holding myself back, I was able to prove my core beliefs to be false and in doing so develop new beliefs. I did not notice any weaknesses throughout the duration of the semester, and as such if I were to do it all over again, I would not alter a thing. This project has helped me accept myself and gain the self-worth I never had. In order to reach your potential as a human, you must first love and respect yourself. Once you are able to do this, you will not inhibit yourself and will begin realizing the creativity and potential you have. Through observing my negative behaviors, I was able to observe the antecedents and cues that I associate the negative behavior with. In doing this, I knew where to direct my change and positive energy. While I have not completely eliminated the negative beliefs and behaviors, I have decreased the rate of occurrence, while increasing positive action. I know its cliché to end with a quote, but my mom has had this magnetized to the fridge for as long as I’ve known, and it’s only now that I’m realizing its self-altering power. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain,"-Vivian Green