“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (Aristotle)
The way we speak is habitual. The concept of habit runs deeply through the work of voice and speech training. This is especially true in theatre, where the idea moves beyond speech into other elements affecting actors’ performance.
In this post, we are simply dipping a toe into the basics of habits: what they are, why we need them, and how to change them if we wish.
What are habits?
Habits are simply behaviors that we repeat often enough that they become automatic. In many cases, these are excellent and helpful, allowing us to focus on more important things than, say, the exact way we brush our teeth.
We perform these behaviors without awareness, and often without much sensation.
Are habits good or bad?
Yes!
Habituating exercise, meditation, conscious eating, mindful spending, and so on are excellent habits.
Not attending to the exact way we put milk in our coffee is a neutral habit; it’s efficient and harmless, freeing our mind for other thoughts.
And you don’t need me to list bad habits here! We all know what they are.
How do habits form?
There are three steps to habit formation. First, there is a prompt or cue from the environment (i. e., the TV show ends). Next there is a repeated action (go to fridge). Finally there is a reward (tasty snack).
The funny thing is, the behavior itself is hardly even important. It’s the environmental cue prompting you to want the reward that is the crux. Then the action just happens to achieve that.
How do we change habits?
First you have to want to. Not just say you want to, but actually want to. That’s an oft-overlooked component here. Motivation is essential.
Next, become aware of the specific environmental prompt/cue, the action, and the reward, as in the snacking example above.
Because it’s easier to do something else than it is to stop doing something, come up with an alternate behavior and reward for a given cue. In the example above, when the TV show ends the behavior shifts from going to the fridge to brushing your teeth, or getting some water, or something else that feels in some way rewarding.
It can also be helpful to modify or eliminate the environmental prompt. Like putting a sticky note on the remote to remind you to do your new behavior instead of the automatic one of going to the fridge.
Your new habit plan may need tweaks in order to find a reward that works. Or the cue might need to be changed more.
Finally, keep at it. It took a lot of repetitions to develop the habit you are changing, and it will take a lot to replace it with a new one. Keep doing it until it sticks.
This article from The Learning Center at UNC Chapel Hill goes into more detail.
If you’d like to look at some of your own habits associated with speech, reach out for a session!
