As has been said get some good fenders. SKS and Planet bike are great. On the rear I'd go with two blinkies. A Planet Bike Superflash on the bike and a second up higher. Maybe on your bag/pack or helmet. I'd also have one white light up front. A 5w+ LED are great. I'm a fan of Dinotte.
As for staying dry...and jacket made from eVent fabric. So much better than Gore Tex. SHowers Pass makes a great jacket.
This all adds up quickly. The way i started was to buy the things of which I had no substitue and made due with other gear i had. As I learned of things wore out I upgraded.
As for motivation..just suck it up one day and give it a try. Maybe on a day off so you can turn around if it just doesn't work for you. I think you'll find that after the first 5 minutes you won't mind the rain and may very well enjoy it.
Couple notes: road paint is slippery when wet and so it metal. Avoid!