Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Jess Brown
There’s a question I’ve been avoiding all year. You probably have one too, that uncomfortable thing you know you should ask yourself but don’t, because you’re terrified of what the answer might reveal.
I’m not going to tell you what mine is yet. But I will tell you this: the end of year quotes that actually changed my life weren’t the pretty ones I saved to Pinterest. They were the life-altering ones that made me squirm a little.
Here’s what I’ve learned: what makes good end of year quotes about the year ending powerful isn’t the words themselves; it’s whether you’re actually ready to hear what they’re asking you to look at. The quotes that created real change for me were the ones that called out the exact patterns I’d been avoiding all year. They weren’t comfortable. They weren’t easy. But they were necessary.
So here are the 10 end of year quotes that forced me to look at what I was avoiding. Read through them. See which one makes you the most uncomfortable. That’s probably the one you need most as you prepare for the new year and your fresh start.
Permission to Want More
“Your desire for more is not greed; it’s growth calling.” – Glennon Doyle
This challenges the guilt we often feel about wanting something different. It’s not about being ungrateful for what we have, it’s about honoring the part of us that knows we’re meant for something more aligned with success, even when that “more” looks different than we expected.
“The questions you’re afraid to ask are usually the ones most worth asking.” – Cheryl Strayed
When you’re stuck between gratitude and longing, this reminder helps you embrace both. The uncomfortable questions are usually the doorway to your future, your next level of growth. Trust me on this one, it’s the quote that’s been haunting me most this year.
Breaking Free from Perfectionism
“Rest is not a reward. It’s part of the process.” – Unknown
This changed how I view productivity and self-care. You don’t have to earn the right to take care of yourself. Rest is how you build the energy for sustainable change, not something you get only after you’ve proven your worth.
“Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Sometimes wisdom shows up as knowing what to release. This helped me understand that simplifying often leads to better results than constantly adding more to an already overwhelming life. What could you remove that would actually make things better?
Finding Meaning in Change
“Change happens in the crucible of discomfort.” – Brené Brown
When you’re in that uncomfortable space between who you were and who you’re becoming, this reminds you that discomfort is often where real transformation happens.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
This quote helped me embrace uncertainty instead of fighting it. It’s okay not to have all the answers. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is keep moving forward even when you can’t see the full path ahead.
The Question I’ve Been Avoiding (And Why It Matters)
Now let me tell you about the uncomfortable question I mentioned at the start.
Am I still playing small and putting myself down because I’m afraid of what it means to truly claim my power?
I thought I’d dealt with this pattern years ago. My mentors pointed out my harsh self-talk back then; how I’d dismiss compliments, joke about my “failures,” immediately point out what I could have done better after any achievement. I worked on it. I got better at accepting praise and speaking kindly to myself.
But just last week, this happened:
I was talking with a mentor who wanted me to work on a project with her. She mentioned she was considering me or another guy she knows. Instead of saying, “Yes, I’m up for it and I’ll figure it out,” I immediately started putting myself down. “He’s probably a better fit; I haven’t done that type of work in a while.”
She paused. Stared at me blankly for a few seconds.
Then told me to knock that shit off. That I really needed to stop doing that to myself.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: old patterns creep back in. Especially when we’re tired, when our confidence takes a hit, when life gets harder than we expected. And this past year? It’s been harder than I expected.
When Your Body Writes Different Plans Than Your Dreams
I originally wrote this post when I was 46. Now I’m almost 47, and I need to be honest with you: this year has been challenging health-wise. Joint pain and sleep issues have affected every area of my life (my energy, my work, my confidence in the future, even my dreams for the future).
Those hiking dreams I had? They feel further away than ever some days.
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In 2021, I attempted a through-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail. I had to leave the trail on day three due to an injury. It was depressing; one of those moments where your body makes it crystal clear that wanting something isn’t enough. But I learned from that experience. I told myself that when my body was in a better place, I’d go back even stronger.
Here I am years later. Finishing the SHT would be a huge accomplishment. Then maybe the Appalachian Trail. Who knows what’s possible after that. But some days, even those dreams feel too big, dimming my hope, when I’m struggling to get through basic workouts or walking a mile without pain.
This is where motivational quotes about “believing in yourself” and “dreaming bigger” start to feel hollow. Because what do you do when your dreams haven’t changed, but your body’s ability to pursue them has?
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“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming.”
That’s the wisdom I’m trying to learn right now. Not forcing, not giving up; just trusting that getting back to working out (which I’m doing now, and it feels good!) is part of the journey. That progress doesn’t always look like we expected, but learning from our mistakes and setbacks is still progress.
The Business Pivot That Changed Everything
Here’s another uncomfortable question I had to face: What if the thing making you money is also draining your soul?
In 2022 and 2023, I was making decent income through network marketing. From the outside, I looked successful. I had built a team of over 1400, helped others achieve their goals, and yes; the money felt good after years of financial struggle.
But I hated it.
Being on social media constantly, sharing things I didn’t always feel inspired to share, the need to follow up with people (which often felt like chasing them), the videos, the DMs, the always-on energy it required; all of it drained me. And it felt precarious, like it could fall apart at any moment.
I’d been learning about my Human Design (I’m a Generator), and everything I was reading said: Stop forcing. Start responding.
So I made a choice that looked crazy from the outside: I walked away from that income to pursue a more aligned new beginning; this blog and becoming certified in the Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code for energy healing work.
For a while, money got tight. My husband never once made me feel bad about it, but I felt the weight of it. All those years of investing in businesses that didn’t pan out, and here I was taking another leap.
But here’s what I’ve found: This work energizes me instead of draining me. I can see myself getting better at it, creating my own products, expanding my services, maybe even developing courses. This feels like something I can sustain with joy for years to come.
That’s real success, even when the bank account doesn’t reflect it yet. This joyful success is what sustainable success truly looks like. And I’m learning that sometimes the best thing you can celebrate isn’t what you achieved, but what you had the courage to walk away from to create the opportunity for something better.
What Makes These Quotes Actually Powerful
You might be wondering: what is a powerful 3-word quote that could sum all of this up?
For me, it’s this: “Keep showing up.”
That’s the wisdom I keep coming back to when everything else feels complicated…
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- End-of-Year Reflection: Questions to Ask to Actually Grow
Frequently Asked Questions About End of Year Quotes and Reflection
That “not enough” feeling often comes from comparing your internal journey to others’ highlight reels. Real transformation rarely looks Instagram-worthy. Sometimes the biggest changes are the subtle shifts—how you talk to yourself, handle stress, or make decisions. Consider what you’ve learned this year, even from the hard moments. That’s growth too.
Not at all. Gratitude and ambition can coexist beautifully. You can deeply appreciate your current life while still honoring the part of you that yearns for something different. It’s not about being ungrateful—it’s about being honest with yourself about your desires and dreams for the future. Think of it like loving your home while still feeling excited about renovating it. Both feelings are valid.
Reflection becomes powerful when it serves as a bridge, not an anchor. When you find yourself dwelling on the past year, ask: “What can this teach me about who I’m becoming?” Use your experiences as stepping stones rather than measuring sticks. The goal isn’t to critique your past self but to understand and honor your journey.
Start tiny. Instead of trying to revolutionize your entire life with aggressive new year goals, pick one small shift you can make today. Maybe it’s taking three deep breaths before responding to stress, or writing down one thing you’re proud of each evening. Real change happens in small, consistent choices—and sustainable growth beats dramatic resolutions that fade by February.
End of Year Quotes That Light the Way Forward
Looking back at these end of year quotes and how they’ve shaped my journey, I’m struck by how these end of year quotes are less about dramatic transformation and more about gentle awakening. They’re reminders that growth doesn’t require force, that wisdom comes through lived experience, and that our path forward is uniquely our own.
Maybe the most powerful reflection isn’t about collecting inspirational quotes, what we’ve achieved, or what we plan to do next. Maybe it’s about how we’re choosing to show up differently in our own lives right now, the wisdom that experience can instill in us. It’s about recognizing that transformation often comes not from adding more to our already full plates, but from letting go of what no longer serves us (even when it’s comfortable, even when it’s paying the bills, even when everyone else thinks we should keep going).
The end of each year, not just the last day of the year, isn’t really an ending at all. It’s just another step in the ongoing journey of becoming who we’re meant to be, leading to a new beginning that carries into tomorrow. All the wisdom comes from embracing that journey, the hard parts and the beautiful parts, the dreams that came true and the ones we’re still working toward with hope, the moments we’re proud of and the ones where we’re still learning.
Whether you’re reflecting on school year quotes to wrap up the school year with your kids, considering what teacher quotes might inspire your students, or simply looking for a new beginning as you head into the new year, remember that authentic growth rarely follows a perfect timeline. It happens in the messy middle, in the uncomfortable questions, in the small choices we make when no one’s watching.
NOW OVER TO YOU: I’d love to hear which of these quotes resonates most with you, or what uncomfortable question you’ve been avoiding this year. Share in the comments below; your insight might be exactly what someone else needs to hear right now.
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