How do I avoid getting depressed and giving up when nothing seems to be working?

Have been trying some of the basic challenges involving going around, making eye contact and smiling at people, and no one seems to be smiling back or returning eye contact at me. Literally no one in about a month of trying this. It kind of feels like im stuck at step 0 and I've essentially lost hope before getting past the starting line. I always go home in a very sad state when I try these things because of how futile it is for me. Im not sure how create linear improvement at smiling at people, it seems like such a basic thing that if it doesnt work at first it never will.

How can I even attract anyone if no one even smiles back at me or looks at me?