IYI Newsletter: 11 questions to ask yourself before 2025 is over


Happy Monday!

Before you jump into goal-setting, resolutions, and planning for 2026, I'd like to invite you to participate in the activity below.

I’ve shared these questions every year for a long time now, and I keep coming back to them for one simple reason: it works. I've received a lot of positive feedback from athletes, coaches, and executives who complete these questions every year.

In 2025, you had wins, losses, stress, growth, and moments that tested you. There are lessons in all of it, but they don’t surface on their own. You have to slow down long enough to notice them.

Progress isn’t just about chasing the next version of yourself. It’s about understanding who you’ve become and deciding what you want to carry forward.

You can do this on your own in a journal, or with someone you trust and talk through your answers together.

Without further delay, here are the 11 self-reflection questions to ask yourself before 2025 is over:

1. What happened this year that I’m grateful for?
I love starting here because it’s easy to fixate on what didn’t happen, what should have happened, or what was outside of your control. This question forces intentional gratitude and sets the tone for everything that follows.

2. What hard things did I overcome this year?
We spend a lot of time celebrating what we achieved and very little time acknowledging the adversity we conquered. Inside the hard things you overcame are proof of your resilience and lessons worth carrying forward.

3. What did 2025 teach me?
Some lessons came from success. Others came from failure. Take the time to clearly identify them.

4. Who positively impacted my life this year?
Maybe someone new entered your life. Maybe an old relationship was rekindled. Maybe someone helped you through a difficult season. Identify those people, and take it a step further by letting them know the positive impact they had on you.

5. How am I different from the person I was in January?
Notice where you have grown. Also, be honest about where you may have drifted away from the habits, standards, or values that once made you the best version of yourself.

6. What relationships do I need to strengthen in 2026?
Who do you need to reconnect with, invest in, or be more intentional about moving forward?

7. What do I need to start doing?

8. What do I need to stop doing?

9. What do I need to keep doing?

These three questions work together. You already know the answers; now is the time to put them down on paper. Question #9 is particularly important because we often overlook the good things we are already doing. Even small wins deserve recognition.

10. What is one small thing I can do to get one percent better every day?
Identify one simple, consistent action that nudges you closer to a better version of yourself. Stack the days and stack the wins.

11. What is my why?
Purpose evolves. Life changes through new roles, new responsibilities, and new seasons. Before you move forward, pause and reconnect with why you do what you do.

Justin Su'a

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Justin Su'a

The Increase Your Impact Newsletter is your Monday morning edge, created for growth-minded individuals. Each issue is a 2-3-minute read that delivers actionable strategies and powerful stories straight from my work with the world’s top performers. I 'd love to have you join my weekly email list and join thousands of others who are striving to get better, just like you.

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