People need motivation to carry them through a variety of activities. If you have ever dreamed of performing in a symphony orchestra, or playing the lead in a play; getting that book published, or landing that dream job, frustration is something you will have to deal with. So, the question facing you is, how do you stay motivated when faced with frustration?

Step one is to realize that nothing worth achieving is going to come easily. To become a great musician, actor, singer etc. requires training and practice. If you want to write a great book, the next great American novel, you need to learn about plot structure, character arcs etc. and write, write, write! When trying to get a good job, you need to have the skills the company wants, and be ready when they have an opening.

Then comes the frustration. No matter how good you are at whatever it is you do, you will probably not succeed at your first attempt. The reason: there are so many other people with the same abilities. Look at a show like "American Idol". How many times have you seen a singer you thought should stay on get tossed off? How often have you applied for that perfect job, or auditioned for that great role, only to miss out?

This is where step two comes into play. You have to accept that you are not the only person suited for whatever it is that you are striving to achieve. Often times getting what you comes down to good timing, networking, and a bit of luck. Yet, this does not mean that you give up. This is where you use step three to keep you focused. Review all of your talents, and look for areas to improve and hone them. Look around your community; are there classes you can take, or groups you can join to help you on the path to success? Along those same lines, a class or book that addresses the issue of motivation can be helpful. Remember, when trying to achieve something, no matter what it is, frustration is a common stumbling block. So, just learning about methods of motivation can really help you to stay focused on your goal.

Next, reviewing the accomplishments of others can help you to deal with the frustrations of your own life. Look at Thomas Edison, and his quest to create the electric light bulb. For that matter, look at any of his inventions. With virtually everything he created, he faced frustration again and again as experiment after experiment failed. His attitude? He looked upon those failures as merely experiments that he did not have to do again.
Abraham Lincoln faced frustration again and again as he struggled to find a competent general to lead the Union Army. He took solace in his faith; he was certain that God was with him, and the Union.

A lot of times, that can be the key: finding out what are the things that help you to stay motivated. Is it your faith; is it your support system or friends and family? Whatever it is you rely on, the critical factor is a positive attitude. If you surround yourself with people who are forever negative, always looking down on things, chronically "glass half empty" sorts, then you are going to find it hard to stay motivated. So, that is why a strong support system is vital.

Finally, an excellent means of staying motivated is to look at others who have succeeded in the face of adversity. Consider someone like author J.K. Rowling; she was "on the dole" as they say in the UK, on public assistance, when she wrote the first "Harry Potter" book. Yet, today, she's said to be richer than the Queen of England. If that isn't motivation for a writer, nothing is!

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/blog