Think of instances when you originally thought you would be unable to do something but in fact were able to do it, or feared that something would not work out well, but it worked out better than you thought it would. This can give you a greater sense of encouragement for the future.

Never give in to feelings of discouragement, since the lowest moments can lead to your greatest fortune. Whenever you feel discouraged, realize how great an accomplishment it is to continue in the face of setbacks and difficulties. View discouragement as a tool for growth. Anyone can take action when things are going smoothly. It takes special strength, at times even heroism, to fortify your spirit and keep going when your initial reaction is to give up.

Some people assume that when they feel discouraged their feelings are "proof," there is no hope. But feelings only represent a person's state of mind, they cannot predict the future. If you ever feel discouraged, ask yourself, "Do my present feelings actually prove there is no hope?" Of course not. There is never absolute proof that your situation will not improve. Adopt the attitude: "It is always possible that the future will turn out much brighter than it seems now. What constructive actions can I take for improvement?"

When you feel a strong ambition for something, it will empower you and you will not give up hope. Intensify your will. Even if you were not successful until now, you may succeed next time.

In spiritual matters and character growth it is never too late to change. A person always has the ability to change and to grow. Therefore, always feel a deep sense of hope that you or someone else can make positive changes. Appreciate even the smallest amounts of improvement. If you become angry one time less than before or with less intensity, that is improvement. If you speak a little kinder to others, that is improvement. The more pleasure you feel with each drop of improvement, the more likely you will keep trying to improve.

Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin (1784-1858) told his followers that even if they make serious mistakes, they should not be discouraged. Instead, they should focus on correcting themselves in the future. To illustrate this point, he asked a disciple of his who grew up on a farm, "Did you use to ride on a horse?"

"Yes," replied the man, "quite frequently.''

"Did it ever happen that you fell off the horse?"

"Many times," the disciple said.

"And what did you do?"

"I just got back on and continued riding," was the person's reply.

"This is a model of how we should react to our mistakes," the Rabbi of Kobrin told his followers. "Never give up. Regardless of how many times you fall, keep on getting up."

Deal with difficult life situations one step at a time. Don't view what you have to do as a huge mountain to be ascended in one jump. Divide tasks into steps small enough to deal with little by little. Focus on the specific task at hand and take pleasure with every small accomplishment.

When you feel discouraged, you are likely to remember past failures and disappointments. This leads to more emotional pain and increases your discouragement. Instead, remember positive moments. Even if you can only remember one time when you felt positive about yourself, or only one time when you manifested confidence or strength, you have a resource that is yours for life. Calmly recall the positive feelings you once had and realize that since you have experienced them once, you can continue to experience them in the future.

Dr. Viktor Frankl recalled his dilemma in a concentration camp during the Second World War when faced with a man and a woman who were close to suicide; both had told him that they expected nothing more in life. He asked both his fellow prisoners whether the question was really what we expected from life. Was it not, rather, what life was expecting from us? He suggested that life was awaiting something from them.

The person who feels despair and discouragement is asking the wrong question. He asks what the world is giving him. As soon as you ask, "What is the good that I can do?" you will always be able to find an answer.

What state would you like to be in right now? What can you do right now to access the state of your choice? Do it.

What words of encouragement would you like to hear from others right now? Give yourself those words.

Encourage others. You can bring about miracles in people's lives if you sincerely believe in their potential and convey this to them. Right now think of someone whom you can encourage.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin of Jerusalem is a Personal Development Coach and the author of 10 books on spiritual and emotional growth, including "Gateway to Happiness" and "Guard Your Tongue." He also writes a daily email list called "Rabbi Pliskin's Daily Lift," which promises "twice the impact of coffee - and no caffeine."