With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, we’re all starting to look at what we hope to accomplish in the coming year, setting lofty goals and New Year’s resolutions. If you’re looking for a little inspiration and motivation to make your dreams a reality in 2019, we’ve got you covered…

If you’re working on setting your New Year’s resolutions for next week, I’ve got some discouraging news. The odds are against your success, with approximately 80% of resolutions failing before the second week of February. It’s not necessarily that we are setting unattainable goals or that we are somehow incapable of achieving them. However, any journey worth traveling is going to include some challenges, setbacks, and struggles. When these difficult times come, what steps are you taking to keep yourself moving forward?

Don’t forget, your New Year’s resolution is likely a sizable goal. To begin with, it’s going to require stepping out of your comfort zone. After all, if it was easy and comfortable you would have done it already. Furthermore, it may require you to break a bad habit or two, which is never an easy task to take on. You’re asking a lot from yourself, and that’s going to be taxing physically, mentally and emotionally.

The important key to success that so many people overlook when trying to improve their lives is easier than you may expect… You need to keep yourself motivated! Find your ‘why’ and remind yourself of it regularly. Write some positive affirmations and say them daily. Surround yourself with motivational quotes. Whatever it is that works for you, roll with it! Find your motivation and embrace it.

To help you get started, here are 30 beautiful and thought-provoking Japanese proverbs:

#1 – “The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.”

#2 – “When one is in love, even the scars left by smallpox are as beautiful as dimples on a person’s cheeks.”

#3 – “One kind word can warm three winter months.”

#4 – “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.”

#5 – “If you understand everything you must be misinformed.”

#6 – “Boasting begins where wisdom stops.”

#7 – “If you think about it, decide it. If you have decided, do not think about it.”

#8 – “If a problem can be solved, then it’s not worth worrying about it. If it can’t be solved, then it’s useless to worry about it.”

#9 – “We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.”

#10 – “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

#11 – “We learn little from victory and much from defeat.”

#12 – “If you ask, you will feel shame for one minute, if you do not, you will feel shame all your life.”

#13 – “Check seven times before ever doubting someone.”

#14 – “One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger one.”

#15 – “Beginning is easy, continuing is hard.”

#16 – “Fortune will always come into a house with laughter.”

#17 – “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

#18 – “A husband and wife should be similar to a hand and an eye: when one’s hand hurts, the eyes cry; and when the eyes cry, the hand wipes away one’s tears.”

#19 – “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.”

#20 – “The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.”

#21 – “Even monkeys can fall from their trees.”

#22 – “The earth always hardens after the rain.”

#23 – “He who endures for just half an hour longer than his opponent can achieve victory.”

#24 – “Cold tea and cold rice are bearable, but cold looks and cold words are not.”

#25 – “If you decide to set off on your own journey, you will find yourself alone for a thousand kilometers.”

#26 – “A frog in a well does not know the greatness of the sea.”

#27 – “The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high.”

#28 – “The sun does not know who is right or who is wrong. It shines without purpose and provides warmth to all.”

#29 – “A bad craftsman never made a perfect vase.”

#30 – “The day you decide to do it is your lucky day.”

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