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The Joshua Tree Principle
Daily Practice Story: practice twice daily for all the sounds.
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I want to tell you a little story that made me realize the importance of being able to name things, since naming these principles is the key to power over them.
Many years ago I received a tree identification book for Christmas. I was at my parents’ home, and after all the gifts had been opened I decided to go out and identify the trees in the neighborhood. Before I went out, I read through part of the book.
The first tree in the book was the Joshua tree because it only took two clues to identify it. Now the Joshua tree is a really weird–looking tree and I looked at that picture and said to myself, "Oh, we don’t have that kind of tree in Northern California. That is a weird–looking tree. I would know if I saw that tree, and I’ve never seen one before."
So I took my book and went outside. My parents lived in a cul–de–sac of six homes. Four of those homes had Joshua trees in the front yard. I had lived in that house for thirteen years, and I had never seen a Joshua tree.
I took a walk around the block, and there must have been a sale at the nursery when everyone was landscaping their new homes at least 80 percent of the homes had Joshua trees in the front yards. And I had never seen one before! Once I was conscious of the tree, once I could name it, I saw it everywhere. Which is exactly my point. Once you can name something, you’re conscious of it. You have power over it. You own it. You’re in control.
How to
: practice at least twice a day. Practice repeating is THE NATURAL WAY to learn Pronunciation. A baby learns to speak by hearing Parents' voice many, many times and imitating it. Repeating is the amazing secret, and the best natural way to learn. If you hear the same story over and over several months, you would soon begin to recognize its sounds, stress, rhythm, and even intonation. It will open your ears, so do the practice, and repeat.
Credit
: The Joshua Tree principle is from Robin William’s book, The Non-Designer's Design Book. The moral of the story is if you have the conscious knowledge, you have the power to control. It also applies to Pronunciation. Good Luck!
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