"The problem is not one of concentration;
it is the belief that no one, including yourself,
is worth consistent effort."
- A Course in Miracles
Where you fall down is where you will have to get up. You cannot fall down at the bottom of the mountain, but stand up at the peak. The journey happens one patient methodical, often boring, step at a time. This is very difficult for a generation geared toward instant gratification and the desire for applause at every step forward. When you were a toddler you received praise and applause for every step forward, even when you fell down on your butt.
But those days are long over now. You are not spiritual babies anymore. This means you must be your own cheering section instead of your own critic. We are here to cheer you on, but often you want another HUMAN to notice and give you a pat on the back - which is looking to the outside for validation. It's lovely when it happens, but to count on it is just another ego addiction. Progress is made during the mundane boring times of life when no one is watching; showing up at the meditation mat, at the gym, cleaning out the garage, making the better food choices, doing your mirror work, saying something kind and real instead of snarky, doing your affirmations in the car instead of having imaginary arguments or worried fantasies. All of these are appointments you make with yourself and far too often humans tend to cancel appointments with the self at the drop of a hat in order to keep a far less important appointment with someone else, or with the TV, or with a negative whining conversation.
We are not talking about "putting yourself first" because that is an entirely ego concept of "either or." This is precisely the kind of finite limited thinking the ego specializes in. Remember, Our NEW thoughts have to do with the elasticity of time and space - limitless possibilities. You don't have to know HOW right now. First, make the committment and THEN the possibilities begin to emerge. It's NOT the other way around.

REMOVE guilt and shoulds from this process entirely. They are of NO value whatsoever and are also ego tools which will only delay progress. Know that you will make mistakes and fall down - so what? You simply stand up right where you fell down and then take the next step. No shame. No blame.
Consider the amount of time that an Olympic athlete spends in boring daily workouts compared to the time spent standing on a pedestel with a medal on her chest. You must become your own daily cheering section and give yourself a medal every time you show up for your appointments with yourself. The best way to do this is to begin to savor and enjoy even the "boring" moments of life. Tell yourself a better story and CHOOSE to enjoy the journey instead of telling yourself that it's hard, that you don't like it, that it's taking too long, that no one appreciates your efforts, that you're going to fail anyhow, that it's selfish to be doing this . . . and on into infinity.
Tell yourself, "I enjoy the process of positive change. I can do this. There is no hurry about any of this. I am learning as I go. I am worth showing up for. Small changes are still changes. I am going in the right direction now."
You ARE worth the effort. We can tell you that forever and a day, but YOU are the one who needs to begin to say it to yourself. And if you are not yet in that place, go ahead and act as if you believe it by showing up and playing the part of a person who does. Yes, PRETEND. And if you play pretend long enough, it will start to feel true, and then it WILL be true.