If you have great friends, loving family and fantastic work associates who give you praise, lift your spirits and encourage you when you're down, count yourself lucky. But don't rely on the words of others to get you where you need to go.
Ultimately, you have to learn how to encourage yourself. On those down days or days of doubt - you have to find the inner will to succeed and move forward. You have to be able to find for yourself the good in life, rediscover your own joy and re-set your own path if you've gone slightly astray.
You have to renew your resolve and determine that today is all that matters - yesterday is gone and tomorrow is only a dream (or a hope). You have to find it within yourself to leave the past behind (and all its attendant guilt and regret) and live to fulfill your life in the NOW.
Encourage yourself. Find inner strength. Find what you need within to not only succeed in your life, but to overcome all obstacles put in your path as well.
Don't look to others for what you can do for yourself. Learn to encourage yourself.