We all know it: change isn't easy.  This is part of why we spend so much time talking about tips and best practices for setting and achieving goals.  And if you check Craigslist this time of year for gently used fitness equipment (yeah, who are we kidding, we didn't even use that new Stairmaster twice), you'll be able to easily see how often we fail our New Year's resolutions, often because we start out too strong and burn out quickly. But as the above Chinese proverb reminds us, our goals themselves are not the things to be scared of.  What should light the fire under us is instead a fear of standing still, of stagnating, of watching while those around us pass us by.  Sometimes, a bit of fear can be a good motivator, provided we harness it.  

So try taking a small step today: think about a goal you have right now.  It could be as grand as a life-long dream or as small as your plan to get rid of that expired food in the back of the fridge, it doesn't matter.  But find a way to take 5 or 10 minutes today to take a small step in achieving it.  Once you've done that, set a reminder in your phone or computer to spend another 5 - 10 minutes on it in one week.  Then keep repeating that process.  Little by little, you'll get there.