# 288. Choosing Intention Over Perfection

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stellar-teacher-podcast-a-podcast-for-upper-elementary-teachers-3455242/288-choosing-intention-over-perfection
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stellar-teacher-podcast-a-podcast-for-upper-elementary-teachers-3455242/288-choosing-intention-over-perfection.md
Podcast: [Stellar Teacher Podcast: A Podcast for Upper Elementary Teachers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/stellar-teacher-podcast-a-podcast-for-upper-elementary-teachers-3455242)
Published: 2026-01-19T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode288
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d21ac5ea-cbea-4558-b9a8-a3fc3ef5a545.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stellar-teacher-podcast-a-podcast-for-upper-elementary-teachers-3455242/episodes/288-choosing-intention-over-perfection
Duration seconds: 1361

## Resource

In this episode, I’m sharing why I’ve moved away from setting traditional New Year’s resolutions and what has actually helped me create meaningful, sustainable change. Over the years, I realized that rigid goals built around doing more or being more often led to frustration and burnout. What made the biggest difference for me wasn’t changing my habits first, but changing how I think and talk to myself. That’s when I started choosing a word of the year as a way to anchor my mindset. This year, my word is abundance . Instead of constantly telling myself I don’t have enough time, energy, or capacity, I’m intentionally shifting toward believing that I do. That small mindset change has already helped me feel calmer, less reactive, and more present in my work and my life. Abundance isn’t about doing more or being busier. It’s about viewing my circumstances differently so I can make better, more intentional choices throughout the day. I also invited the Stellar Teacher team to share their words for the year and the mindset shifts they’re hoping to create. Words like active, downshift, enough, restore, ease, and unoffendable reflect a shared desire to work and live with more clarity, sustainability, and self-trust. As you head into this year, I invite you to choose one word that grounds you, supports you, and reminds you how you want to feel both in and out of the classroom. Join us in the Stellar Literacy Collective Membership: stellarteacher.com/join ! Sign up for my FREE private podcast, the Confident Writer Systems Series , here ! Sign up for my FREE Revision Made Easy email series here ! Follow me on Instagram @thestellarteachercompany . To check out all of the resources from this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.stellarteacher.com/episode288 .

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