Every new year I find myself filled with optimism. I won’t deny that last year was challenging on many levels for many people here and around the world. But that simple digit change on the end of the date invites the potential for something different—something better—something hopeful. And as a person who believes in the power of affirmations to help direct our thoughts in positive ways—I decided to go through a few of my favorite quotes to see which ones I want to focus on as 2026 gets underway.
As suspected, just by spending a couple of days researching and deciding which ones to include, I felt my own mood being optimized and energized. That’s when it occurred to me that a very good practice just might be to read every one of these quotes, every day, for the next 21 days. Could something so easy really make a difference? Is anyone else interested in joining me to find out?
Here are 20 quotes that I feel are thought-seeds that will encourage us, keep us focused on the positive, and inspire us to be hopeful about the future. They are:
- Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of humans as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is a daring adventure or nothing. ~Helen Keller
- Someone ought to tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now. ~Michael Landon
- We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world. ~The Buddha
- We are meant to outgrow ourselves; indeed, we can no more avoid this development than we can stop the aging process. The only question is how gracefully—and healthily—we will handle the transition. ~Caroline Myss
- If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you. ~The Gospel of Thomas
- Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
- You do not need anybody’s permission to live a creative life. ~Elizabeth Gilbert
- Think progress, not perfection. ~Ryan Holiday
- Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” ~St. Francis of Assisi
- I learned when hit by loss, to ask the right question: “What’s next?” instead of “Why me?” ~Julia Cameron
- The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. ~Carlos Castaneda
- Things are always working out for me. ~Abraham-Hicks
- Every day you can choose to be happy, loving and live life to Its fullest. Remember, you get to make it up! ~Thom Gottberg
- I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and the doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. ~Joseph Campbell
- Peace is not something you wish for. It is something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away. ~Robert Fulghum
- If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain. ~Maya Angelou
- Use every letter you write, every conversation you have, every meeting you attend, to express your fundamental beliefs and dreams. Affirm to others the vision of the world you want. You are a free, immensely powerful source of life and goodness. Affirm it. Spread it. Radiate it. Think day and night about it and you will see a miracle happen: the greatness of your own life. ~Robert Muller
- Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- The turnaround came when I got up one morning and realized the sun was shining whether I wanted it to or not. CHOICES. That’s the word. That’s when I realized that every day I had a choice. I could choose to be miserable, or I could choose to move forward. Obviously, I chose to move forward. ~Richard Navarre
- We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better. ~ J.K. Rowling
And one more for good measure!
- Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire. ~Saint Catherine of Siena
During the Christmas holiday Thom and I spent time with friends named Carol and Dave. During one of our conversations, Carol mentioned that she routinely struggled with letting go of some of the more difficult issues that she had faced during 2025. Worst of all, she seriously doubted it was even possible for her to think about other things with those thoughts so heavy on her mind.
But maybe there is. What if for the next 21-days each of us read these quotes (preferably out loud) and allowed them to sink into our minds? While they may not solve a person’s (or the world’s) problems, they just might help switch our thoughts in more positive or hopeful ways. From there, who knows what opportunities might develop? Again, who else wants to see what’s possible?
I continue to believe that with the right intentions we can design a better, more hopeful, and a more loving world for ourselves and each other. But we can’t sit around hoping it will just spontaneously happen or that someone else will do it for us. With the right thoughts, the right actions, the right intentions, 2026 can be an improvement. And as Gandhi said, it is always SMART to remember that, “We must be the change we hope to see in the world.”
Okay, your turn? Interested in joining me in this “thought experiment?” Please let me know in the comments below. Also, did I miss YOUR favorite quote? Feel free to add any quotes in the comments that are important for your positive future.
Very well some of it striked right inside of me, to shed light on my weaknesses and strengths. As I stopped looking for success outside and trying to find ways to look inside the built-in success I may possess like others.
Wonderful and uplifting post, Kathy Gottberg! I really enjoyed this collection of inspiring quotes to start 2026 with positivity and optimism. The mix of wisdom from thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Maya Angelou, and J.K. Rowling truly reminds us how powerful our mindset can be at the beginning of a new year. Reading motivational quotes daily is a great habit for building a positive outlook and personal growth. This is a perfect guide for anyone searching for inspirational quotes to start the new year with hope and positivity.
Those are great quotes! I like most of them but really like Michael Landon’s “Whatever you want to do, do it now!”. As I get older This really resonates as a mantra.
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Some excellent quotes – thanks for compiling them. I noticed you added a great one by Thom in there. I am an optimistic person too, and I feel like it has served me well in life. One of my favorite fun quotes, that reminds me to live life fully is by Hunter Thompson. I have it in my retirement blog bio:
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to a skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow – what a ride!”
Hunter S. Thompson
Happy new year to you!
Hi Marian! I LOVE that quote. Thank you for adding it to the list. Every time I read your quote I am reminded to live life as “full out” as possible. Happy New Year to you and your family and may 2026 be pleasant but exciting ride forward!! ~Kathy
Life is. What u make it.
There is so much truth to all these quotes, Kathy, but for some reason this one stood out most to me: “I learned when hit by loss, to ask the right question: “What’s next?” instead of “Why me?” ~Julia Cameron” I like that you included Thom’s quote as well.
It’s all about being positive and having a constructive mindset, things that I appreciate and envy about you, but that are not so easy to accomplish.
Your post reminded me of something our friend (where we are currently staying) said to his wife on New Year’s Eve when she sounded a bit grumpy and complainy: “Denise, choose to be happy today!” 🙂
Hi Liesbet! Good question huh? What’s next for you and Marc/ You’ve certainly made some major changes in your lives recently so I hope that question helps to lead you to where you will be most happy and at peace. I agree that staying optimistic is easier for some of us but thank goodness our brains are flexible and adaptable. But it DOES require practice. May 2026 be a good path for your future! ~Kathy
Well of course my favorite one is #13!
I have a box of quotes on index cards. I pull one out every morning and set it up by my computer. A great way to start the day.
Happy New Year to you and Thom!
Hi Galen! Happy 2026! And Thom will be happy to know you liked his quote. He said it years ago and it has stuck with us all this time. But like I said to Marne, the tricky part is remembering it in the moment. May the new year be a good year for remembering! And good for you for keeping yours front and center–that should help!!! ~Kathy
My favorite:
The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. ~Carlos Castaneda. Thom’s quote resonates with me similarly!
Hi Marne! Isn’t that a great quote. Of course the challenging part is remembering that day-to-day! Thom’s too! I hope you and Bob are healthy and happy and that 2026 is a peaceful and good one for us all! ~Kathy
Kathy, an inspiring post as I contemplate my WOTY. I think my favorite quote in this was yours, “With the right thoughts, the right actions, the right intentions, 2026 can be an improvement. ” Especially as Intention has been saying “pick me” for my WOTY! And yes, I do need 2026 to be an improvement on 2025 – in many ways. Happy New Year to you. Pat
Hi Pat! Yes “intention” is a GREAT word for WOTY (word of the year). I have had a few health challenges so my word is VITALITY to remind me where I want to go from here. But having the right “intentions” makes all the difference doesn’t it? Happy New Year to you and yours and may 2026 be more peaceful and happy for us both! ~Kathy
I’m in! These are beautiful words that will inspire me. My Quote: Be kind always for each of us is fighting a battle of which you know nothing about”. Happy Healthy New Year!
Hi Becky! Happy 2026 to you too! We are so looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks. And I too love that quote you mentioned. So important to remind each other. ~Kathy
Thanks Kathy these are so helpful during these hard times but they also are so correct we change make these changes and it starts with us and then sharing and showing this in actions and our lives. Thank you for sharing this important information with each of us and now it is up to me to put it into practice and actions. Hugs, Jim
Hi Jim! Nice to hear from you and I appreciate your words. May 2026 be healthy, happy and more peace-filled that ever before. ~Kathy