Everyone feels the nagging tug of discouragement. Shift your focus from what's going wrong to what's going right.

When you can't change your feelings or your circumstances, give yourself permission to dance in your heart.

Just fell flat on your face trying to accomplish a task you should have been able to complete? Now, you may be feeling anxious about trying again. If you need to cry about it, it is ok to cry to help you overcome negative emotions. When you're done, laugh in the face of your mess-up. Decide to learn from your mistake and try again!

Tomorrow is a new day. It isn't a perfect day, but a brand-new day. What it holds for you depends greatly on how you handle the tough things thrown your way. Live wisely. Sometimes, it's harder, less convenient, or even unpopular, but it's a choice you will never regret.

What you want the most in life is what you will spend your time and energy pursuing. How much anxiety will you feel? Be radically honest. If you achieve this goal, will you actually be satisfied? Will you be a better person if you accomplish this goal? Will you enjoy the journey toward this goal or be under constant strain and stress?

What seems to calm you down in the hecticness of life, even if just a little? A good book? Listening to music? Texting a friend? Hobbies? Sports? A jog? A few minutes in a quiet place? Even if all you have is 20 minutes, try to add that stress relief to your week ONE MORE TIME.

Look around you. Name five things you can see. Name four things you can hear. Name three things you can feel. Name two things you can smell. Name one thing you can taste or one thing you can imagine tasting. Use your senses to become more aware of the present and less concerned about life's "what ifs."

Find one happy thought amid all the dark ones and cling to it like a lifeboat in a stormy sea: a memory, a hope, a dream, a wish, a joke you heard, a smile you made happen. This happy thought won't erase the darkness, but it can give you a burst of strength and motivation to stay afloat during the storm.

Are you facing a difficult situation that you can't change? Is something that you can't control weighing heavily on your mind? For 15 minutes each day allow yourself to focus on this thing. Journal, draw, or speak aloud all of your thoughts and feelings on this particular scenario and, then, put it in a box on a shelf and let your mind take a break.

It may seem unnatural, but a few times each week, bring yourself to a complete stop. Clear your mind as best you can. Think about three positive, happy thoughts. Let those thoughts remind you that everything will become okay even if everything isn't okay right now.

You've heard it said, "One step forward and two steps back." Sometimes life can be like that, can't it? Perhaps it is time for you to REVERSE IT! Keep working on it (and work through that discouragement) until you take one step back but two steps forward.

Did you ever say to yourself- or anyone who might listen- "Gimme a break!" By that, you meant, "I just need ONE positive thing to go my way. Just one." Here's a different perspective: give YOURSELF a break. Cut YOURSELF some slack by openly and honestly searching out something said or done, or even a smile directed your way, that can be a sign that better days are soon to come.

Ask yourself: "How optimistic am I? How can I be more generous with that optimism?" If you are only 20% optimistic, share that 20% with someone this week!

Remind yourself that whatever you are feeling right now will not last. Feelings are temporary, no matter how terrible. Think about it this way: If you can imagine a difficult outcome, you can also imagine a much more positive outcome!

Write down a few circumstances in which it is exceptionally hard to find anything to be grateful for. Fight to become a person of gratitude by searching daily to see if you can't find a reason or two!

Ask yourself, "What is the next right thing for me to do?" then, without too much overthinking, DO IT.

Do you feel confused? Who can you talk to about your problem? Don't make a rash, destructive decision. Be patient with yourself. The more pressure you put on your mind for an immediate answer, the more confused you will become.

Do you have so much to do that you can't find the motivation to "begin to begin"? Break it down into smaller pieces and do a few of those pieces at a time. Or, set a timer and work on that task for 15 minutes. You can do anything for 15 minutes!

Even if it is not natural for you to be a problem-solver, adopt an attitude of "I will grow in finding solutions because I know problems are an undeniable fact of life." Here's an easy place to start:

• Learn from similar challenges in your past.
• Put aside pride and ask for advice.
• Trust the passing of time and remember most problems do not have to be solved overnight.

What makes you sad, uncertain, confused, or want to give up? In a short sentence, write down why you feel like you deserve such negative emotions." Then, write down at least three positives (even some that may seem small) happening to and around you to counter the negative. In your mind, or on paper, say more than once, "Today I choose to place these three positives above my "good" reason to be down about _________________________" (identify your feeling)

One day at a time. One problem at a time. One task at a time. Even if you are a multi-tasker, there is something dynamic about seeing one project or responsibility to completion. What obligations are you facing this week? Perhaps too many. However, completing the next thing can bring mental or emotional relief.

"Trust your gut" is a saying you may have heard. It simply means that when you want to make the best decision but are unsure what to do, your unconscious mind will help guide you to the right choice. So: a) Decide to make the right choice b) Take adequate time to mull it over, and c) Listen to direction from deep within your mind.

Think of three small goals that would do your heart good to accomplish. It could be anything from a good deed to making a healthy choice for your body to complimenting yourself (or a friend) in an area you wouldn't usually think important enough to compliment. Before the end of the week, achieve those three small goals; keep going because little positives lead to bigger positives, which lead to a more positive way of life.

It's okay to feel sad, mad, and scared when hard things happen that you can't control. Remember, good things can co-exist alongside hard things.

Most of us would like a friend or mentor who encourages us. If, at this season of life, you don't have that person, there is hope. You can be that person. The more you practice the discipline of self-encouragement, the better you will get at it.