One of the most useful ideas in REBT comes from psychologist Paul Hauck: Big I, little i.

Think of yourself as one enormous I, made up of thousands of little i’s. Those little i’s represent everything about you—your abilities, relationships, accomplishments, mistakes, quirks, strengths, weaknesses, and experiences.

Stuttering is one of those little i’s.

The problem occurs when “I stutter” becomes “I am defective,” “I am inadequate,” or “I am a failure.” We have taken one characteristic and irrationally used it to judge the entire person.

Certainly, evaluate the little i. Work on your speech. Challenge irrational beliefs. Practice easier bounces. Take speaking risks. Change what you would like to change.

But you are far too complex to assign yourself one global rating.

Work on the little i’s. Accept the Big I.

That is unconditional self-acceptance—and another shackle loosened.