FFantastique wrote:
Write script, follow script. Not based on feeling.

I disagree.  In my experience and observation (on both sides of the camera), the model's comfort and sense of how well (s)he's doing can determine whether or not the shot and/or shoot will be successful.  Unless you're going for the lowest artistic level, the boobs and bubble-butt kind of "Glamour" in which case nobody's looking at the model's face, anyway.

All IMHO as always, of course.

ETA re: the OP's original question: Try to remove any negative thoughts right at the beginning of the day.  Listen to music while having a good breakfast, allow enough time to wake up and get started on your own schedule (hard to do if you're shooting a movie or TV show so make sure you get plenty of sleep and have everything you'll need ready the night before..

Allow plenty of time to get to the shoot and get ready.  Don't allow yourself to be rushed.  Harder to do in a small shoot than in a large one with lots of people so if it's going to be a one-on-one kind of shoot, try to establish a level of rapport with the photographer in the negotiation phase (assuming there is a negotiation phase)

Remember (and remind yourself as necessary) that you're there because the photographer or casting agent thinks you're the best out of dozens (possibly even hundreds) of applicants for the job.  Who are you to disagree with them?

Kathleen Moody wrote:
Obviously being a model has its ups and downs.

Every occupation has.

How do you guys remain confident when you are feeling low?

Why should you oppose to a feeling? Feelings are natural. Stay the way you feel, don't try to act upon it. Look at it and it will go naturally.

How do you motivate yourselves to carry on and pursue your dreams?

These are the sick ideas of consumerism - work 24/7, be productive at 200%, pursue illusions. Why? Just be human, take a rest, have some joy in life. Then you will have energy naturally. Effort and chasing imaginary things will only exhaust you and make you feel lower and lower and at the end of your life you will ask "what was all this about?"

FFantastique wrote:
Write script, follow script. Not based on feeling.

I agree to a certain extent. I do feel that rapport between model and photographer is critical. But a model's job is to act without the benefit of a supporting character, without mood music, without time to redo something over and over, and all within a split second to emote a feeling by expression and body positioning. The photographer is the director who's job is get the performance from the model and capture it. Both jobs can be difficult when there are outside negative influences, but we still need to do our jobs. THAT'S OUR JOBS and they become easier with experience.