Okay, that's great advice, but is it realistic? Negative thinking can creep up on any of us, making it seem impossible to move forward. Maybe you're tired of living on a budget, having to say no to your kids, and working all the time.

Maybe you've been hit with a financial setback such as a creditor who refuses to negotiate with you or the loss of an asset you wanted to hold on to.

Of course you're going to feel blue once in a while. What can you do about it? Well, lots. Celebrate each get-out-of-debt success.

At a minimum, take time to acknowledge what you've achieved. Maybe you got one of your creditors to agree to lower the interest you are paying, or you landed a part time job that will allow you to pay off your debts faster. Celebrating your successes, even small ones, can motivate you to keep moving forward.

Stay active. Exercise is a great way to get rid of stress, frustration, and negative thoughts. So when you're feeling down, don't plop yourself in front of the TV. Go for a run or walk, take a bike ride, swim, or play your favorite sport.

Find things to laugh about. Rent a funny movie, spend time with a witty friend, watch your favorite sitcom, read the funny papers, or check out a humorous Web site for a good belly laugh is therapeutic.

Do something fun. There are plenty of ways to have fun on the cheap. Read a good book, play board games, do puzzles with your kids, go for hikes, dig in the garden, invite friends over for a potluck meal, rent a movie, enjoy your local park, visit a museum. Go out and play!

Count your blessings. Draw strength from the good things in your life. Volunteering at a food bank or homeless shelter is an excellent way to get rid of a "poor me" attitude and to keep your situation in perspective.

Accept what you can't change. If your financial problems are the result of things you had no control over (maybe you lost your job in a downsizing or had a bad accident that landed you in the hospital), railing against your fate is a waste of time. Accept what happened and move on.

Find peace through prayer or meditation. Whether it's a church, synagogue, mosque, Buddhist retreat or your house or nearby woods or beach find a quiet place where you can recharge your spirit regularly. Use prayer or meditation to detach yourself from the negatives going on in your life. Tell yourself, "All this will pass." And it will, eventually.

If you're experiencing more than the occasional blues if you can't shake your negative feelings you may be clinically depressed. Major Depression will sap your energy and make it difficult, if not impossible, to move forward. Get help by scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional.