STAY MOTIVATED

Welcome to Blog 19!
In this post, my goal is to help you understand how to stay motivated—whether you’re in the military or just navigating everyday life while chasing those big dreams of yours.

Having goals is important because they give you focus, motivation, and the drive to reach for something greater than what you’ve known before. Goals give your life purpose. They give you something to aim for, and to dream about.

I’ve had some goals that have taken me years to work toward. And I know the real challenge comes when the journey starts to feel never-ending. So, how do you stay motivated when it seems like that goal is always just out of reach?

Today, I want to break down what’s helped me stay focused and keep pushing—even when the path was long and full of setbacks. Let’s get into it.

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Why Do You Want It?

Before you chase any goal, stop and ask yourself: Why do I want this? Be honest, in my opinion that is probably the hardest part. It is hard to be your own critic. Be specific. The clearer you are about your reason, the stronger your foundation will be.

It’s easy to say you want to get in shape, start a new career, or join the military—but if you don’t understand the real why behind that goal, your motivation won’t last. When things get tough—and they will—it’s that deeper reason that keeps you moving forward.

Once you’ve got your “why,” you can start building a plan of action that’s actually meaningful. Without that clarity, even the best plan will fall apart because it’s not rooted in purpose.

The reason you need to know why you want something is because that “why” becomes your anchor on the days you feel zero motivation. And let’s be real—those days come more often than we’d like. When you hit a wall, when the excitement fades, or when things get hard, your “why” is what keeps you going.

It reminds you that there’s a purpose behind the struggle. So when motivation disappears—and it will—go back to that reason. Let it push you forward, even when everything else says quit.

Small Victories.

Progress isn’t always loud or flashy—it’s often quiet, slow, and easy to overlook. That’s why it’s important to take a step back and recognize your small victories along the way. Every early morning, every rep at the gym, every day you stayed consistent or showed up when you didn’t feel like it—those are wins. And they count.

Too many people quit because they don’t feel like they’re moving fast enough. But real growth isn’t instant—it’s a grind. You might look back and see only a few steps forward and a whole lot of mistakes or setbacks. That’s normal. Don’t let it discourage you. You’re not failing—you’re learning. And that learning process is where real strength is built.

Break your big goal into smaller, more manageable milestones. Instead of focusing on the long road ahead, set short-term goals you can achieve in a week, two weeks, or a month. These smaller targets give you something concrete to work toward and allow you to track progress in real time. Each one you hit gives you a shot of momentum.

And when you reach those milestones—celebrate them. Not with a complete break from discipline, but with a moment of pride. Acknowledge the work you’ve put in and let that feeling fuel your next step.

Visualize it.

Chances are, you’ve already pictured yourself reaching your goal—that’s probably why you set it in the first place. But don’t stop there. Make visualization part of your daily mindset. See the moment you achieve it. Feel what it’s like. Live it in your mind before it becomes reality.

Each day, take a few quiet minutes to imagine exactly how it will feel to hit your goal—where you’ll be, what you’ll see, who you’ll tell first, how proud you’ll feel. Let that vision be as clear and detailed as possible. The more real it feels, the more connected you become to the outcome—and the harder you’ll fight to make it happen.

Picture it as the best moment of your life, because it represents everything you’ve sacrificed, pushed through, and overcome. It’s not just a dream—it’s a future that you’re building, brick by brick, day by day.

And here’s the key: don’t just visualize the finish line. Visualize yourself showing up every day with discipline, doing the work, and staying consistent—even when it’s tough. That’s the part most people skip, but it’s what makes the dream real.

Losing motivation is easy—it happens to all of us. I know it happens to me more often than I’d like. But in those moments, I push myself to remember why I started. I focus on the end result, on that moment I’ve been working so hard to reach. That vision keeps me going.

It’s important to understand that you will not reach your goal overnight. Progress takes time, patience, and persistence. There will be setbacks, but every step—no matter how small—brings you closer to where you want to be.

I hope everything I’ve shared above helps you stay grounded and focused as you work toward the goals you’ve set for yourself. Keep showing up. Keep believing in the process.

I’m wishing you nothing but the best. Keep pushing, and I hope you reach every height you’re capable of. You’ve got this.

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Have a question, want to share your experience, or just want to connect? Feel free to reach out anytime through the “Contact Me” page. I’m always open to hearing from you and helping however I can.

Next Thursday’s post: “Lessons I learned in the military”— keep an eye out for it.

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Thanks for being here and being part of the journey.

Very Respectfully,
Vlad Kalinin