The Talking Traveller

I know I'm a bit late....but here it. My new, improved mission state. Much the same idea but a bit improved I would say.  

MISSION STATEMENT II

I am Hein van der Merwe, a recovering stutterer and diaphragmatic speaker.

For 17 years I have lived my life as I chronic stutterer. I've been blessed with wonderful parents, a brother and sister, who will love me no matter what I do, where I go, or how I speak. I've been able to go through life loved and cared for. I've been well educated and have been able to support myself entirely. I've had good relationships, still have, with friends and loved ones.

However, because I stutter I feel that I have always had to hold back, hold back thoughts, opinions and emotions. I feel that I have hidden potential inside of me and I have an urge and responsibility to develop those skills. I've constantly lived in a certain kind of fear, fear of getting stuck on or not being able to say certain words. This has led to humiliation, frustration and other disempowering thoughts, beliefs and emotions that were associated with verbal communication.

Since July 2005 I have been  part of a speaking program for stutterers that have shown me the road to freedom. A powerful speaking technique that gives me total control when correctly applied and frequently practiced. I have finally been able to translate my thoughts, Ideas and emotions FULLY to other people without fear or struggle for the first time in my life. It has made speaking FUN.  It is called the McGuire Programme. My progress has been TREMENDOUS since I've joined this program in terms of speaking abilities, beliefs about my communication ability and confidence in what I am capable of.

Unfortunately I still have situations where I hold back, where I avoid, where I stutter uncomfortably and experience feelings I despise. I not am willing to accept this kind of speaking or thinking behaviour anymore, I refuse to regress to the way I used to speak and think. I am shaping my style of living to fully challenge myself in developing into the best and happiest person I can be, I therefore declare the following.......

I hereby declare war on uncontrolled, uncomfortable stuttery speaking and thinking.

I declare that I am going to further devote a certain amount of time in my life to further improve my desired speaking behaviour.

I declare that I am doing, and will continue to do the following.......

• - To follow the dreams in my heart with the willingness to make sacrifices,
• - To always practice McGuire techniques and use the support network,
• - To speak to as many people as possible and make friends worldwide,
• - To always practice controlled, diaphragmatic and eloquent speaking,
• - To enter new exciting, challenging situations, and test and discover my abilities.
• - To practice challenging words and experience freedom when comfortably saying those words and by doing so, slowly dissolving the fear of pronouncing them.
• - To help, inspire and support other stutterers on their way to eloquent speaking,
• - To learn as much from other people, cultures and experiences, using that to help, inspire and understand.
• - To develop and improve my skills that I desire to be better at, thereby eventually becoming an eloquent, entertaining and most effective communicator.
• - To see the world, grow as person and enjoy my life journey.

I feel that this is an opportunity, necessity and life adventure that I now have the privilege to undertake and should make the most off. I believe that by undertaking this I am conquering my fear of speaking, my fear of people, fear of liking myself, because that fear will prohibit my survival ......and I WILL always survive!

I pray that GOD will further guide me on this mission. I thank all the people in my life that support me and for the inspiration they provide me in undertaking this.  

Hein van der Merwe                                                             02-03-2007                 

Krugerspost, Mpumalanga, South Africa