I think we all have feelings of discouragement. I know I do. The tend to stem from a lack of confidence that I can achieve a goal, impatience to make progress toward a goal at the rate desired, and waiting for a response to something like a job interview or writing competition. The more time that goes by with a dis-couraged attitude, it will grow worse. None of us want to give up on a goal simply because we become discouraged and lose passion for the goal we initially had.

So what should you do to change your attitude to a positive one?

Most of all, you should remember that you'll appreciate achieving any goal you worked for more than one you didn't. If you become an overnight success and it comes easy, you won't have the same appreciation for it.

I'm writing a book. Now, I've started entering it for competitions and submitting queries to publishers and agents. it's well-known that this can be a grueling and arduous task. I wonder sometimes if I have the wherewithal to see it through. When I feel discouraged about achieving this goal and the work that it will take, I remind myself about all the sunk cost that went into getting where I am today. I have to remember that writing is a craft to be cultivated. If I want my writing to be the best it can be, it will take some work, and it may be slow. I feel certain that if I work, I can improve and find success.  

Remember that you are making progress even if it is so slow you can't see it. I'm studying the tango, and sometimes it feels like I've been practicing for months and have barely made progress. That all feels better when I receive a nice complement from someone noticing my improvement, but it never seems quite fast enough for me. We all want to be there NOW instead of enjoying the process of learning. When you feel like you've hit a brick wall, remind yourself that you are learning and that consistent practice makes perfect, even at a snail's pace.

 Waiting for anything you want to manifest can be very discouraging, so I must learn to be patient.

There are many other things to do:

1. Meditate on "I will" affirmations.
2. Be honest with yourself about why you put all this effort into the activity in the first place.
3. Offer yourself words of encouragement and remember the words of encouragement others have offered you.
4. Choose to be happy for those who have already achieved the goal you desire. You may not feel happy when you see how far you have to go, but if you work on it, you can genuinely feel happy for others. Jealousy for those who already have what you want is a virus that slows progress. Love and happiness for seeing other's with what you want is an amplifier of good things and speedier progress. Watch and learn from the people you have surpassed you. Remember there is enough for everyone. 

All of these things take strong power of mind. You have to work harder sometimes more than others to have a good attitude, too. All these things are mental muscle builders. Remember, it's normal to feel discouraged and frustrated sometimes. It's because you're working and hoping. The process of changing your mood to positive can be tough and should be a constant effort. I encourage you to press on because things will improve. They are certain to move at a quicker pace if you employ a positive attitude, use visualization techniques to picture yourself where you want to be, and choose patience because you can!