人生不是一切都顺利的。有时候，有些事情，会让我们感到疲累，甚至想放弃，特别当事情没有预想中的顺利，或想要的结果遥不可及。家人及朋友的鼓励固然重要，但自己给予自己的推动力也一样重要。

There are times when we feel down and out with the stuff we have to do. Finding the motivation to keep us going, be it real or imaginary, isn’t easy. After all, people tend to be surrounded by negativity, rather than positivity, when things aren’t going well.

At times, perhaps instead of being stuck with the negative thoughts, why not look on the bright side of things? 人生何必让自己更苦？
– Break down into smaller, more achievable targets. If the main one is too far to reach, then break it down into steps that are easier to achieve, for example, I want to accomplish xxx today, instead of I want to achieve yyy over n months. Reaching each smaller goal will not be as difficult and in turn will motivate us to move towards the next step. Take each small step at a time, at least it seems less overwhelming…
– Reward after achieving each target. Dangling a carrot at the end may do the trick, though the carrot can be a break for 15 mins or no more books for the entire day. Or instead, you can try to “threaten” yourself, for example, you can only have lunch after you have reached your goal.
– Have breaks in between, to walk away and refresh. 休息是为了走更长的路，虽然休息太多会哪里都走不到… Hahaha..
– Scare yourself with the undesirable consequences of not reaching the target, like you may have to redo everything all over again.
– Challenge yourself that since someone has reached there, been there, then you can do it too!
– Psycho yourself that it’s the effort that count. Though sadly this society focuses mainly on results.
– Remind yourself the benefits of achieving the aim and the reasons of proceeding with it initially. Oh well, we all know that it’s usually for the better future, for the better future, for the better future…
– Think of the cost has been sunk, be it money, time or effort, and thus we should continue and not give up, or all will go to waste. However, this violates the Finance 101 principle that sunk costs should not be considered in decision making.
– As a saying goes: You never try, you never know… If you give up now, you surely won’t achieve your aim. At least if you try, there are still some chance that you will reach the goal, despite a very very small minute possibility.. But then, 0.000000001% is better than 0.000000000% right?
– 套一句长辈常说的话：Challenges will make us grow and we will all emerge a better, stronger, wiser and more mature person after that… Oh well…
– If it’s something we have to do it, we have to do it; there’s no use running away or delaying it forever. It’s typically better to 先苦后甜 right??
– Your family, friends and those around you support you and have expectations of you. Give your best and not let their faith go to waste. After all, you don’t want to let them be disappointed right?
– You are not alone. Think of the many other people who are suffering with you at this moment as well.
– Tell yourself: I will survive, I will survive, I will survive. After all, you are not going to be eaten up by a tiger/lion/shark (but if you really are… er…) and be grateful that you are much more fortunate than those living in hunger and poverty. At least you are in a better state with edible food, some shelter and some decent clothes.
– If all else fails, try counting down. It seems to do the trick pretty well. Count down to something you look forward to, eg 5 days to weekend, 4 days to weekend, 3 days to weekend, 2 days to weekend, 1 day to weekend or 9 hours to end of work, 8 hours to end of work, etc…

I guess, at times, it’s just in the mind. Psycho-ing will give you the feel-good factor and perhaps the self-belief. It may not work for some situations and people and it certainly does not work forever, but at least, it will make you feel better for awhile =) However, sometimes, there’s no use thinking too much. If you have to do it, just put in your best, get over and done with it. Though I agree it’s easier said than done, but ultimately, I guess 只要对得起自己，不要有遗憾就好了，不是吗？明天，会更好的 =) Oh well…