Mottos that are sure to lift your spirits and keep you positive!
When you’re feeling down or things aren’t going well, sometimes the motto you’ve written in your personal journal can save you.
What kind of motto do you live by?
In this article, we’ll introduce positive mottos that will shine a bright light on you.
We’ve picked quotes from great figures and celebrities, as well as lines from manga, taken from a variety of contexts.
When you need just a little more strength to keep going, or when you’ve hit rock bottom and can’t pull yourself up, please remember the words we share here.
- Words I want to make my motto that always inspire me
- Words that strongly push you forward and give you energy
- Quotes that save your heart in times of pain or hardship
- Encouraging words that give you strength. Words you’ll want to share with those around you.
- Short quotes that reach your heart in an instant. Words to encourage you right now.
- Even a single word can save your heart! Uplifting, happy words that make you feel positive
- Blow away your anxiety and doubts! Short phrases that lift your spirits and set you on a positive path.
- Gives you a nudge and stays by your side... Uplifting words you’ll want to know
- Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live
- Powerful words give you a push! Words that help you try even harder than before.
- You might even find your motto—short phrases that leave a lasting impression.
- If you know them, they might become beacons that light your life’s path: a collection of memorable quotes.
- Maybe powerful words can give you strength? A collection of uplifting short quotes
These positive mottos (21–30) are sure to lift your spirits and keep you looking ahead!
You can’t change other people or the past, but you can change yourself and the future.Eric Berne
A famous quote by Eric Berne, a Canadian psychiatrist, says, “You can’t change other people or the past, but you can change yourself and the future.” It’s true: even if you try to force others, you can’t really change them, and what happened in the past can’t be undone.
But the future, which hasn’t arrived yet, can be changed as much as we want, and we can change ourselves starting from this very moment.
Just adopting this mindset can give us hope in life.
It’s a message that helps us interpret things more positively.
Blue sky beyond the clouds
Life has its ups and downs, and words that support us during tough times or when things aren’t going well can be encouraging.
With that in mind, let me introduce the phrase “ungai sōten.” It’s a four-character idiom meaning, “Even in difficult situations, a bright future awaits once you overcome them.” It’s a truly uplifting expression.
Even if things are hard now, I believe that if you steadily do your best with what’s in front of you, a path will open.
When you’re facing severe hardships, try whispering “ungai sōten” to yourself.
It might brighten your mood and help you think more positively.
If you give up, the game is over right there.Mitsuyoshi Anzai, Slam Dunk
“If you give up, the game is over right there” is a famous quote from Coach Anzai in Slam Dunk.
When you quit because your efforts aren’t paying off, or you decide you can’t do it and give up, the path to success gets cut off.
When you’re feeling down because things aren’t going well at school or work, remember the words, “If you give up, the game is over right there.” They can motivate you and give you the strength to keep going without giving up, to dig in and push through.
And if you’re still unsure, one option is to just keep going for now.
If you can dream it, you can do it.Walt Disney
There’s a quote by Walt Disney, who held fast to his belief that “If you can dream it, you can do it,” achieved remarkable success, and created many works known around the world.
Have you ever given up because you thought you lacked confidence or because people around you opposed your plans? Cherish your own feelings, and try taking on anything you want to challenge.
A new world may open up before you.
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
@az0202za #Fall down seven times, get up eight #Yojijukugo (four-character idiom) #Indomitable spirit to keep challenging #Nanakorobi yaoki (fall seven, rise eight)
♬ Original Song – 0202civo – az0202za
This four-character idiom is well known and conveys the idea that no matter how many times you fail, you rise again even more.
It expresses an indomitable spirit that always gets back up and refuses to be defeated, no matter how often hardship strikes.
The Daruma doll, modeled after the Indian monk Bodhidharma, is also frequently associated with this idiom because it has a weight at the bottom and pops back up no matter how it’s knocked over.
As for the characters “seven” and “eight,” they signify “many times,” and eight is also considered a lucky number.
Single-minded focus spanning a vast distance
@yoji_jukuko Four-character idiomTranslationtranslationA clear sky stretching for ten thousand milesThis is a revised thumbnail for a past video.
♬ Escort – MoppySound
This four-character idiom expresses the idea of continuing to strive toward a single goal without letting your mind be led astray.
Rather than stemming from a typical Chinese anecdote common to many idioms, it originates from a passage in Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings.
Because it conveys the notion that a single sky continues no matter how far you go, it is also used to signify the expansiveness of the world.
Musashi’s writings contain many insights useful to people today, so if you’re interested, why not give them a read?
indomitable; unyielding
@kurukoba Four-character idioms translationIndomitable and unyielding
♬ Original Song – Bird v🔍💙 – Hour of Four Ripe
It expresses the strength to not break even when facing difficulties and to rise again and again.
Whether at work, in study, or in pursuing a hobby, things often don’t go as planned.
In those moments, remembering these words makes me feel I can still keep going.
What’s striking is that it’s not just about trying hard; it embodies a flexible, resilient drive to move forward.
By consciously taking things one step at a time without rushing, you can feel that even small daily efforts aren’t wasted.
I felt it’s a four-character idiom that serves as support in everyday life.
