Happy New Year, dear readers! We're sending you all the very best wishes for a peaceful, blessed, healthy and prosperous new year. One of my favourite things to do during the early parts of the year is to ingest as many inspiring quotes, words, thoughts and stories as I can. I do this in the hopes that I'll be better equipped with enough mental and emotional strength to put my best face (and foot) forward, as I work my way through the year. Here are five inspiring ideas that I'll be keeping in mind in the new year, and perhaps you'll find them inspiring, too. Maybe you can turn to them while you work through your resolutions (whatever they may be). If you're not a resolutionist, maybe they can help you during your dark and difficult days, or offer you perspective when you need it. 1. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes mean that you're trying -- and that's better than nothing at all. This quote comes from Neil Gaiman, inspiring author and all around truth-teller. You should check out his journal for more of his thoughts and ideas. 2. It's never too late for change. Whether you're trying to kick a habit, change your perspective, adjust your attitude or you're simply looking for a change in your life path, remember: It's never too late. And if you try and fail, don't worry. Just try again. This particular quote from Eric Roth resonated for me. He focuses on the idea of change and about how, if you're ready, you can change at any time. 3. Resolve to be kinder to others, to strangers, to people who probably don't deserve your kindness, but most importantly, resolve to be kinder to yourself. This is my mission, going into the new year. If 2014 showed us anything, it's that hatred and chaos has gotten our world nowhere. We're all on the same team, you know? We need to stick together in order to hope for a better outcome for our planet. And yes, I know quite often it's easy to become angry with ourselves for whatever decisions we've made in our lives. But forgiveness and kindness starts with the self. If you make a mistake, it's okay. You can fix it. Take time, instead, to heal and move forward with positive purpose. (I'm certainly going to try.) 4. Happiness starts with gratefulness. It's a pretty simple equation, really, but it's one I've struggled with as an adult. Over the holidays, I watched Happy, a documentary on Netflix that explored this idea of happiness. It asked people around the world, from all walks of life, one simple question: What makes you happy? And it all came down to one basic thing: being grateful. Imagine that. Here's a TED Talk by Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar, who explains it all. It's not happiness that makes us grateful. It's gratefulness that makes us happy. The video is 15 minutes long, but I promise you it's worth watching. [HTML1] 5. Embrace your past but look forward towards the future. Steve Jobs has this awesome quote about connecting the dots in your life, and I absolutely love it! He said you're unable to connect the dots looking forward, but you can always connect them as you look back. You have to believe, wherever you are in your life, that the dots have led you to that particular moment. Someone you met may have changed the course of your life. An experience you had may have led you to where you are today. Here's what I've learned so far: The past may not always be pleasant, but you have to believe that you have the chance at a happier future. It's important to acknowledge the past; that the experiences you've had have made you who you are today, but it's equally important (if not, more so) to not live in the past. Live in the present, embrace your past, and look hopefully towards a brighter future. Do you have any quotes or inspiring ideas you live by? Please share them in the comments section below. All the best for a happier, peaceful and hopeful tomorrow. Cheers! All graphics created by Simone Castello. Image courtesy of Uditha Wickramanayaka/FlickrCC