I think the saying goes, “keep your eyes on the prize” When something is hard for me to change, and so much is, I remind myself how good I always feel after crossing that bridge. I remind myself how proud I know Hashem is with me for working on myself, and then I tell myself that it is not really so effortful as I think, that the discouragement is coming from the Yetzer Hora trying to dupe me. That last thought gives me the push to want to one-up him. (I guess I am still operating on a primal level)
Love the question, thanks.