Effort has a reward on its own

Effort, just by itself, is already rewarding. Just like in the time
when the Bodhisatta was born as Mahajanaka, swimming in the ocean
without seeing any land, sometimes we may be uncertain whether we are
on the right track. But be confident -- effort in good and wholesome
matters has a reward in itself. Even when we haven't met our goals
yet, at least we have overcome the habit of heedlessness and despair.
This is fulfilling in itself.