June 29, 2026

"I want you to have big dreams, big goals. I want you to strive to achieve them. But I don't want to see you beating yourself up every time you make a mistake."

Kelley Armstrong
Did you find this inspiring?
Inspirational quote by Kelley Armstrong

Explanation

This quote is a gentle reminder that ambition and self kindness can live in the same heart. It’s good to want more for yourself, to chase the dream, apply for the job, start the project, take the risk. But the road to anything meaningful usually includes wrong turns, awkward attempts, and days when you don’t show up the way you hoped. Kelley Armstrong is saying: don’t turn every mistake into evidence that you’re not enough. A stumble is not a character flaw; it’s part of learning. Think of how you’d encourage a friend who messed up, you probably wouldn’t shame them, you’d help them get back up. You deserve that same grace from yourself.

About the Author

Kelley Armstrong (born December 14, 1968, in Sudbury, Ontario) is a Canadian bestselling author known for blending fantasy, mystery, horror, and suspense. After studying psychology and computer programming, she launched her writing career with Bitten (2001), the first book in her popular Women of the Otherworld series. She is most remembered for creating vivid supernatural worlds with strong, complicated heroines, as well as for YA series like Darkest Powers and thrillers such as Rockton. Her quote reflects a theme that runs through much of her work: characters are pushed to grow, take risks, and chase difficult goals, but they also have to learn resilience and self-compassion along the way.