Motivational sayings are cool, because lots of famous people have had lots of pretty epically inspirational ideas and thoughts.  We've all heard that attitude is everything, having a positive outlook on life and the future, having goals and achievements for tomorrow and the years to come, finding the ability to achieve that elusive American Dream. But sometimes when you hit that brick wall, like our friend in the picture below, you need a little extra kick to get up and keep truckin. The world is a tough place to survive.  I've gone through a lot of discouragement this past year, hitting more than my fair share of brick walls of failure and challenges. And though my persistence and determination was due to more than one single factor, it was nice being able to lean on a few powerful motivational sayings to help keep me going in the right direction. I've picked out my favorites and listed them below. My favorite motivational sayings.

1) "Choosing is a courageous act: picking the results and actions which you will make into your destiny." Peter Senge

2) "However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The faultfinder will find fault even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poor-house." Henry David Thoreau

3) "Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?" Frank Scully

4) "Fall down seven times.  Stand up eight." Japanese Proverb

5) "Let fate do her worst, there are relics of joy,

Bright dreams of the past which she cannot destroy;

Which come in the nighttime of sorrow and care,

And bring back the features that joy used to wear.

Long, long be my heart with such memories filled!

Like the vase in which flowers have once been distilled --

You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,

But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."

Thomas Moore