How do you encourage yourself

[singletonb]

Sometimes when my day is not going right and it seems like I can't do anything right, I begin to be really hard on myself and become critical of myself. I am sometimes my worse critic.  When I get to that point, I force myself to think of those things that I did get right and the good that I had done and remind myself that I am not perfect and still had a lot of growing to do.  What do you do to encourage yourself?

[jcalexis]

First I do is pray. Then I say to myself ' I can do this' or stop being lazy.

[Penwoir]

Historically, I was always one to delay something I didn't feel I could do, or even permanently procrastinate over something I didn't know how to do. When I started working however, I decided I was going to change. At the beginning of the day, I would look at my to-do list and make a point of doing all the tasks I didn't enjoy first, finding out how to do something if I didn't know how to do it, and when it was all done, I could look forward to an easier day having got the most difficult things under my belt already. 25 years later, I still do all the things I don't want to do, first thing in the morning.

[CharmedPhoenix]

I try to list all the things that went/are going right, all my accomplishments.  I also remind myself that "this too will pass".  I have a list of positive, encouraging songs I can play and some sites I can visit for more positive messages.   

[vg7405]

I usually think about what I want to accomplish in the long-term: namely, completing my doctorate. I also think about, if I am able to achieve that, I can make more money (and I will be done paying the school off, LOL).

[froggylover227]

I seek out the one thing that keeps me going, the one thing that I'm working towards, and that's a future with my boyfriend who I love so much. When it seems like I just can't take anymore, or want to give up, I just think about him, and how happy he makes me and how I need to keep going so that one day we will have the future we want together. 

[articx]

I don't have a need to encourage myself. When I am having a hard time doing something, I stubbornly try again and again, but stop at some point to try again later.

[honeyflower93]

Daily affirmations in the mirror and visualizing my goals realized. Science supports the effectiveness of positive thinking. That's not to say it can solve everything but it can't hurt.

[masked_brown_guy]

I just remember what some of the most successful people would say; "haters are going to hate. Keep your head up."

[tgreen20]

How do I encourage myself? Well no one else is responsible for my life only me, so I everything I do reflects on myself so that is where my encouragement comes from.

We all are responsible for our own actions in life and we can not blame anyone else for our life.
 

[ancmetro]

      I agree with you. We are not perfect beings.It is difficult to understand and accept that "we are not perfect". Once you realize this point of view in our lives, then we are ready to solve most of our problems with a positive attitude. Have courage in the face of adversity.

[Lanieannette]

I encourage myself by just thinking that every little task is an accomplishment and one by one they will add up into one big accomplishment! I'm currently unemployed and looking for work and I only have a semester before I start going to back to school (I took a year off) so every little task I do makes me feel super accomplished, like I'm getting somewhere. I also encourage myself by thinking "if I'm not successful by myself, how will I ever be successful and happy with another person?" And that seems to encourage and motivate me quite a bit.

[tfw6693]

  I start quoting scripture. The other thing I do is keep a diary of my accomplishments and go back and read it every so often. Usually, if I get down on myself it is because I am trying to "push" things into my life and not just living 1 day at a time. 

[Forp]

Take stuff in small steps and if that feels like too much I try and make the steps even smaller.

[linderlizzie]

Well, I hate that voice in my head that berates or belittles me in any way. I have adopted the policy of just saying, "Stop it!" out loud to myself. That stops it dead in its tracks.

I say 'to myself' for obvious reasons.  Besides, I rarely hear that condemning voice if I'm with someone else.    If that voice has been temporarily banished from my brain, then it's simpler to encourage myself.

And hopefully, you may have a significant other who can encourage you as well.  If not, then just keep on keepin' on. God does not make garbage.