25+ "Intention Words" for SLPs to Focus On This Year

Jena H. Castro-Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a private practice consultant, author, teacher, entrepreneur, mentor and mom. She's the founder of The Independent Clinician and spends a lot of time in the SLP Private Practice Beginners Facebook Group.

Every new year, I pick a new word to focus my intentions.

Do you do the same thing?

​Having an "intention word" can help keep you focused and grounded when you're tempted to fall into familiar traps of overwhelm, anxiety, stress or indecision.

As the admin for The SLP Private Practice Beginners Facebook Group, I shared the word that I had chosen to focus on and then asked the group members what word they have picked for themselves this year.

I have chosen the word "Simplify" for myself.

As a private practitioner, author, small business owner, clinical instructor, wife, mom of two little boys, I wear A LOT of hats.

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(I'm coming to the realization that I'm wearing too many hats...)

Most of my SLP friends also feel like they are wearing too many hats and choose to take the hope and opportunity that comes with a new year to regroup and refocus.

When I asked members in The SLP Private Practice Beginners FB Group to share their intention words for 2018, the results were refreshing.

Given that this is a group of private practitioners, it wasn't surprising to see Action Words like:

• Grow
• Focus
• Action
• Do

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When I took a look at the full list of words however, I noticed that the most common intention words could be easily divided into a few different categories...

Action Words

• ​Grow
• Streamline
• Focus
• Effectiveness
• Begin
• Do
• Build
• ​Plant
• ​Persist (my personal favorite!)
  

Confidence Words

• ​Faith​​
• Trust
• Brave
• Recognition​
• ROAR!  

Balance Words

• ​Simplify
• Purpose
• Intentional
• Boundaties
• Perspective
• ​Fun

Peaceful Words

• Breathe
• Grace
• Faith
• Live
• Flourish
• ​Embrace

This List Isn't Just About Private Practitioners... It's About Where Speech-Language Pathologists Are

What started out as a fun post in a Facebook group taught me a lot about where speech-language pathologists are right now... 

Speech-language pathologists are eager to make a difference (action words) but are overwhelmed and overworked (balance words) and are longing for calm in their life storms (peaceful words) and to feel more powerful when it comes to getting it all done (confidence words).

As of this writing, over 8,300+ speech-language pathologists have found their way to The SLP Private Practice Beginners Facebook Group because they are seeking more clinical freedom, balance and control over their financial lives than their "regular" settings can provide.

Speech-language pathology is not just a profession but a calling.  We are called to help people but often lose sight of helping ourselves.

As we head into the new year, I urge you to: take action, find balance, build confidence and make peace no matter which setting you work in.

You got this.

Happy New Year!

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Jena H. Castro-Casbon, MS CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, private practice consultant, speaker and member ASHA and the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She started her own speech therapy private practice in 2006. She is the founder of The Independent Clinician and author of The Guide to Private Patients, The Guide to Creating a Web Presence for Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice. Since 2008, she has helped thousands of clinicians get the flexibility, income and freedom they desire from starting their own private speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy practices. Connect with Jena in The SLP Private Practice Beginners FB Group.

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What is YOUR intention word for this year?