Change your Story

How to Close 2025 Strong and Walk Into 2026 With Momentum

As we approach the end of 2025 and gather around Thanksgiving tables,

many of us find ourselves reflecting on the year with a mix of gratitude… and regret.

We’re grateful for what we have, the people we love, the growth we’ve experienced,

and the moments that shaped us.But if we’re honest, the end of the year also brings

up the quieter thoughts:

What could I have done differently? Why didn’t I follow through?

Why did I avoid that decision? Where did I lose momentum?

You’re not alone in this. In fact, this tension is exactly what Mel Robbins and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb talked about in their recent conversation — the human tendency to replay the same story, even when that story no longer fits who we are becoming.

And here’s the powerful reframe:

**Your past doesn’t define you.

The story you tell about it does.**

Lori Gottlieb reminds us that we are all “editors of our own narratives.” Your life is not a finished book — it’s an ongoing draft. And you have permission to pick up the pen and make new choices.

Mel Robbins adds:

“You are one decision away from a completely different life.”

The decisions that transform us usually aren’t big, dramatic, Hollywood-moment choices. They’re the small ones — the quiet decisions made on a random Tuesday when nobody is watching.

And with one month left in the year, those decisions matter more than ever.

Why the Last Month of the Year Matters

Most people write off December. "I’ll start fresh in January.” “I’ll get back on track

after the holidays.” “I’ll reset when life settles down.”

But December is actually one of the most powerful months of the year — not because you need to completely overhaul your life, but because small, intentional actions create massive momentum heading into the new year.

You’re not starting over. You’re starting from experience.

And momentum built now carries into January, February, and beyond.

A Simple Framework to Rewrite Your Story

If you want to change your story going into 2026, try this three-step approach:

1. Rewrite the Story

Instead of:

• “I failed.” → Try: “I learned.”

• “I didn’t follow through.” → Try: “I needed better support and regulation.”

• “It’s too late.” → Try: “I’m just getting started.”

The words you use to describe your life become the lens you look through.

Choose a stronger lens.

2. Release What You’re Holding

Insight isn’t enough — you have to release the emotional weight too.

Try:

• A 10-minute brain dump

• A quiet walk without your phone

• Three slow nasal breaths before reacting

• A nervous system reset (saccades, tactile input, humming, long exhales)

• Closing a lingering task or conversation

Releasing creates space. Space creates clarity. Clarity creates momentum.

3. Rebuild With Purpose

This month isn’t about perfection — it’s about deliberate action.

Pick one area you want to show up stronger in. Commit to tiny, doable steps.

Let consistency be your confidence builder.

Five Practical Ways to Finish 2025 Strong

Here are simple, actionable steps you can implement starting today:

1. Choose Your “End-of-Year Identity”

Identity drives behavior.

Write one sentence:

“I am someone who ______.”

Examples:

• …finishes strong.

• …honors her health every day.

• …shows up even when she’s tired.

• …takes care of her nervous system.

• …keeps her commitments to herself.

This is who you become through your daily actions.

2. Pick One Micro-Goal for December

Keep it small and simple:

• 10 minutes of Simply Strong movement

• One whole-food meal per day

• A nightly wind-down routine

• Daily protein + water goals

• A daily walk

• One nervous system reset

Micro-goals create macro shifts.

3. Add One Daily Nervous System Reset

Your story cannot change if your state stays dysregulated.

Try:

• Eye saccades

• Toe scrunches

• Long exhales

• Humming

• Foot sensory work

• Forehead tapping

A calm system makes habit change easier and more sustainable.

4. Close One Open Loop Each Week

These “loops” drain energy and keep you stuck.

This month, choose one per week:

• Book the appointment

• Have the conversation

• Finish the task you’ve avoided

• Clear the drawer

• Cancel the thing you don’t want to do

• Ask for the help you need

Every loop you close gives you power back.

5. Ask Better Questions

Instead of: “Why didn’t I do better?” Ask:

“What’s the next tiny action I can take today?”

Because forward motion is the cure.

Your New Story Starts Now

This final month of 2025 is your opportunity to shift your narrative — not by pretending the past didn’t happen, but by choosing the meaning you give it.

You’ve lived too much life, gained too much wisdom, and built too much strength to carry an old story into a new year.

So let me ask you:

What story do you want your future self — or your grandchildren — to tell about this moment in your life?

You have one powerful month left. Use it with intention. Finish strong.

Walk into 2026 as the most grounded, confident, powerful version of yourself.

You are not behind. You are right on time.