This Time of Year: Reflection, Resilience, and Resetting for What Comes Next
- Justine Martin
- Dec 16
- 3 min read
There is something about this time of year that feels different. The days carry a strange mix of exhaustion and hope. For many people, it is a season of reflection, of looking back at everything they have survived, achieved, lost, and learned. It can feel emotional, overwhelming, and grounding all at once.
As a speaker, business owner, and human navigating life with lived experience, I see this season not as an ending, but as a pause. A moment to breathe before the next chapter begins.
The Quiet Weight of the Year That Was
By the time this part of the year arrives, most people are tired. Not just physically, but emotionally.
You may be carrying things no one else can see.
Grief. Change. Growth. Fatigue. Pride. Disappointment. Gratitude.
This is often when people realise just how much they have held together. And if you are feeling flat or fragile right now, that does not mean you are failing. It usually means you have been strong for a long time.
Resilience is not loud. Sometimes it looks like simply getting to the end of the year while still standing.
Reflection Without Judgement
This is a powerful time to reflect, but reflection does not need to turn into self-criticism.
Instead of asking, “Why did I not do more?” try asking, “What did I survive?”Instead of focusing on what did not happen, notice what did.
Growth is not always visible in achievements. Often it shows up in boundaries, perspective, confidence, or the ability to keep going when life feels heavy.
Reflection is not about measuring success. It is about recognising strength.
Why This Season Matters for Your Voice
For speakers, leaders, and business owners, this time of year is often quieter. Fewer events. More space. That space matters.
It is where clarity returns.
It is where stories settle.
It is where meaning is made from experience.
Some of the most powerful talks are born during still moments like this, when you stop performing and start listening to yourself again.
Your voice does not need to be loud right now. It just needs to be honest.
Ending the Year Without Burning Out
You do not need to finish the year at full speed to be successful.
You do not need to prove anything.
You do not need to push through exhaustion to earn rest.
Resilience also means knowing when to slow down.
Rest is not quitting.
Pausing is not failure.
Taking care of yourself is leadership.
If this season invites you to soften rather than strive, listen to that invitation.
Looking Forward Without Pressure
As the year begins to close, there is often pressure to plan, set goals, and map out the future. If that feels right for you, wonderful. If it does not, that is okay too.
Sometimes the most powerful intention you can set is simply this:“I will keep going, with compassion for myself.”
The next chapter does not need to be rushed. It will come in its own time.
Final Thoughts
This time of year is not just about endings. It is about honouring how far you have come. It is about recognising the resilience it took to get here. It is about allowing yourself to breathe before stepping forward again.
If you are tired, you are not weak.
If you are reflective, you are growing.
If you are still standing, you are resilient.
Wherever this season finds you, know this. You have done enough. You are enough. And what comes next will meet you when you are ready.
Justine Martin speaks on resilience, lived experience, leadership, and finding strength through every season of life.
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