All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail.”—Dorothea Brande

Attitude and energy go hand-in-hand.When you fear failure, you find yourself in a metaphorical pool of quicksand. Your body feels heavy, your spirit keeps sinking and the desire to surrender becomes almost irresistible.

But the reverse is also true. When you believe deep down inside that you can succeed, your energy level hits the full mark, making you feel like you are an unstoppable force.

The trick is to generate feelings of self-confidence. Start by making a list of past successes. No matter how small, they will create a positive image of yourself.

Then, choose one small task to complete that day that will signify achievement to you. Put it on the list, do it and then check it off.

It sounds silly but the fact that you have completed one chore (however minor) has a way of making you feel that you have accomplished something—that you have at least one success to your credit—which can boost your morale and give you the impetus to move forward.