It's a question of where you really are now. You can't fake this, so it does no good to act as if you're at a different point than your skill level is really at.

At first, the task is simply to redirect the mind. When you start generating a negative vibe you notice and redirect yourself. You do lots of pattern interrupts.

But this is only going to take you so far. It will be enough for the simple inconveniences of daily life not to send you into a negative spiral, so life will start getting better, but sometimes you're still going to be struck by tragedy or at least extreme disappointment. Such is life.

In those times, either you've developed enough skill in choosing your emotions at will so that you can be with whatever is arising from a place of equanimity, or you haven't. If you have, great. You are able to surf the waves of the ocean no matter how choppy they are, and it's always a fun ride, just to be riding. If not though, then okay, you're going to experience suffering. And that's okay too.

You do what you can do when you can do it, and don't beat yourself up for not being able to run before you can walk. You know that if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how many times you fall down, one day you will run.