You know what they say about dreamers? In the words of Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, the problem with most people is that “they dream about what they wanna do instead of really doing it.”
It’s fun to sit around and imagine all the wonderful things you want out of life. You might even get stuck in the “research phase,” reading, planning, and gathering information—until one day you look up and realize months (or even years) have passed, and you’re still just researching.
When it comes time to actually put in the work, the road gets long, the excitement fades, and it’s no longer fun anymore. That’s when doubt creeps in. You start second-guessing yourself, feeling discouraged, and before you know it, you’ve fallen into a nasty pattern of not believing in your ability to make things happen.
But let’s go back to Whitney for a second. She also said the world is full of “zanies and fools”—the ones bold enough to follow their dreams. No matter how illogical it seems, no matter what the naysayers say, they keep going. They stay faithful to the dream, and because of that, “impossible things are happening every day.”
Don’t kill your dream before you even give it a real chance. You can do this. With a little consistent effort each day, you can build momentum, stay motivated, and create real consistency in achieving your goals and dreams.
In this article, I’ll share real, practical strategies to help you stay on track—especially for the days when motivation is nowhere to be found. Let’s get into it!
Understand Your Why To Stay Consistent
It’s important to choose your goals based on what you want out of life — not society, social media, your family, or your friends. It’s your life. You’re the one who has to live it every day. Make sure the dreams you’re chasing are built on your personal values, not anyone else’s expectations.
When your “why” is connected to something deeper than money or status, it becomes your fuel.
For example, when I decided to prioritize my blog, of course I wanted it to eventually support my family financially. But my real reason runs deeper: I want to be a source of support and solidarity for all of you who are also out here chasing your dreams. I want to be a model for my son — to show him what it looks like to go after something you believe in, to stay the course when things get hard. I want him to see his momma build something special from the ground up and know that he can do it too.
That’s why I keep a picture of him on my desk. Not just because he’s so cute (which he is!) but to remind me of why I’m doing all of this. It definitely helps push me along when I don’t feel like doing any work. Just one look in his eyes and my will to succeed is on fire. He reminds me that my dreams aren’t just about me — they’re about legacy.
Mini takeaway:
Before you move another step forward, get clear on your why. Write it down. Speak it out loud. Keep it front and center.
Narrow Your Focus to Build Consistency in Achieving Goals
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you don’t have a clear focus.
If you’re not careful, your dreams can start to scatter in a million different directions. Trust me — I’ve been there. I was just telling my coach recently that I struggle with wanting to do everything. I want to blog. I want to do YouTube. I want to sell clothes. I want to sell stationery. I want to start a nonprofit. I want to do photography. You name it, I’ve dreamed it.
The problem is, every time I started chasing something new, I spread my energy thinner and thinner. I ended up overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of real progress in any one area.
If you’re always chasing the next shiny idea, you never give yourself a real shot at building something lasting. You have to narrow your focus, pick one big idea at a time, and build on that foundation.
It’s not about giving up your other dreams — it’s about honoring them enough to give them the time, energy, and attention they deserve.
Try these practices to stay focused:
- Write a mission statement and tape it somewhere you’ll see every day.
- Make a vision board or set your Lock Screen with an image that represents your primary goal.
- Say your “why” out loud to yourself every morning as part of your routine.
Set Manageable Milestones to Maintain Consistency
You’re supposed to THINK BIG when it comes to your dreams, but sometimes they can feel so far away from where you are now that it almost seems impossible.
To keep your momentum going — and to make sure you don’t fall off track — you need to break down that big, impossible-feeling goal into small, very possible steps.
Also, focus on setting goals you can actually control. For example, instead of saying, “I want to have better mental health,” break it down into something you can act on, like, “I’ll start a daily gratitude practice,” or “I’ll book my first therapy session this month.”
The same goes if your dream is to be more consistent with self-care. Instead of just saying, “I want to take better care of myself,” set a milestone like, “I’ll schedule 30 minutes every Sunday to check in with myself and plan my week.” Small actions build real change.
You can’t control everything life throws at you, but you can control the small steps you take to grow stronger every day.
Breaking down your goals this way helps build your confidence over time. Every time you complete a step, you pour a little more into your “confidence bucket.” And before you know it, you’ll feel unstoppable — tackling bigger and better things than you ever thought possible.
Don’t forget to celebrate along the way! Try this: pick one day each week to write down your wins. I personally love Fridays — it’s the end of the work week and the start of the weekend. (Plus, who doesn’t love a good Fri-yay moment?)
Taking time to reflect lets you acknowledge what went well, do a little celebratory dance, and get re-energized for what’s next. After you celebrate, ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do next week to bring me closer to my dream?
If you have a little extra time and energy, you can even get a jump start over the weekend. If not, you’ll start your Monday fresh, focused, and ready to keep building that dream.
Build Supportive Routines for Goal Consistency
This is where you can start to build habits that will support you in your dreams. You want to stay consistent while working toward your goals, and routines are going to be your best friend.
I have both a daily and a weekly routine to help me stay on track with my blogging goals. In the mornings, I not only get myself together, but I also make sure my baby is changed, clothed, and fed so he can settle down for a good nap — which gives me a solid window to get work done while he sleeps.
On a weekly basis, I have themed days where I focus on writing blog posts, working on newsletters, or posting on Pinterest. Having those themed days helps me batch my work and avoid burnout. If I don’t finish something, it simply rolls over to the next week — no shame, no guilt. But having that dedicated time keeps me focused, and it’s the reason I’ve been able to stay consistent with my blog. I’ve been following this system for about two months now, and honestly, I’m really proud of the progress I’m making, even while managing a busy life and a baby.
It’s also important to have what I call “flex days.” I intentionally build time into my routine for rest, catch-up, or even getting a head start on upcoming tasks. Flex days are a game changer — because let’s be real, sometimes things take longer than we expect. Having that buffer lets me keep moving without feeling like I’m constantly behind.
Turn Routines into Meaningful Rituals
Routines are helpful, but they can get boring real quick if there’s no heart behind them.
That’s why I’m big on turning routines into rituals — small, sacred moments that keep you connected to your purpose, even on the hard days.
When you add intentionality to your routines, you’re not just checking off a to-do list — you’re building emotional fuel to keep going.
Here are a few simple rituals you can build into your day:
- Light a candle or play your favorite song before sitting down to work on your dream.
- Start your day by reading your mission statement out loud.
- End every week with a five-minute reflection: What did I learn? What am I proud of?
- Do a quick mindset check-in — three deep breaths and a power affirmation before starting a task.
Rituals are what keep you going on the days when you don’t feel like showing up — and trust me, there will be a lot of those days. Probably more than the ones where you feel fired up and excited. Sacred daily reminders give you the mental and emotional reset you need to keep pushing through.
For me, I like to say affirmations in the morning while I’m getting my son dressed and ready for the day. It’s a reminder for me — and hopefully, one for him too. To be more intentional with my dream I’m also going to put my mission statement on my bathroom mirror so that I can be reminded of it as I get ready.
Your ritual doesn’t have to be complicated — just consistent and intentional. What tiny action could you add to your routine to make it more meaningful?
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection, to Stay Consistent
Let’s just get this out of the way — if you’re waiting until everything is perfect, you’re going to be waiting forever. Ask me how I know. 😳
I had the idea to start a blog floating around in my head for years. But I kept second-guessing myself.
Who would want to take personal development advice from me?
I’m a mess.
I’m still trying to get my life together.
It took me nine years to finally make it happen. And I can’t help but think about how far I could’ve been if I had just started back then. The longer I waited, the more I convinced myself that I wasn’t good enough.
I actually learned a valuable lesson about progress from listening to Cocomelon with my son. They have a song about the tortoise and the hare — you know the classic story: slow and steady wins the race. That’s how I’ve been thinking about my blog lately.
It’s okay if I can’t go fast. It’s okay if it’s not perfect or exactly the way I want it right now. As long as I’m making slow and steady efforts toward my goal, I’m going to get there.
Honestly, I’ve made more progress in two months than I did in nine years of doubting myself. And let me tell you — things were way more “perfect” back then than they are now. I had more time, more energy, fewer responsibilities… But progress didn’t happen until I stopped chasing perfect and started chasing done.
Here’s the truth: Things are never going to be perfect. You have to keep going anyway. Time isn’t going to wait for you to “get it right.”
One thing I’ve learned is, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. I used to believe you had to be lucky for your dreams to come true. But it’s not about luck — it’s about preparation. It’s about being in the right place at the right time because you stayed consistent and ready.
That moment will never happen if you keep letting perfection hold you back.
I think one reason we cling so tightly to perfection is because deep down, we’re scared to fail.We’re scared to be caught slipping. But here’s what nobody tells you: failure is not the enemy. Failure is part of the process.
I remember hearing Will Smith talk about failing — and failing fast. He wasn’t the first to say it, but it stuck with me. The sooner you get your failures out of the way, the sooner you’ll get to your success.
Learn from your mistakes and keep it moving. Stay in the game. That’s how you win.
Build Accountability Into Your Life for Consistency in Achieving Goals
Trying to chase your dreams all by yourself is one of the hardest ways to do it. You don’t just need motivation — you need support.
Keeping your goals to yourself is one thing, but when you share them with people you trust — people who will check in on you and hold you to what you said you would do — it becomes a lot harder to give up. Especially when it’s people you respect, because you want them to be proud of you. You don’t want to disappoint them.
Having someone to cheer you on is so powerful. It means a lot to know that someone else cares about your dreams, not just you.
On the days when your motivation is low, your tribe will give you the encouragement you need to keep going. When you’re feeling stuck or discouraged, it’s a blessing to have people you can lean on — people who can remind you of your “why,” share resources, or just give you a good old-fashioned pep talk.
The right support system doesn’t just hold you accountable — it reminds you of what you’re capable of.
There are lots of ways to build accountability into your life:
- Hire a life coach. Check to see if your health insurance covers it — that’s actually how I found mine!
- Put together a group of friends with similar goals and meet once a week, either in person or virtually. (I did this when I started my videography business, and it was so helpful to talk through problems and brainstorm solutions.)
- Make a public statement and document your journey online. So many people build loyal followings just by being real about their goals. Sometimes the support from strangers is even stronger than from the people closest to you.
You might be thinking, “I got this. I don’t need help.” Or if you’re more introverted, you might shy away from finding accountability partners altogether.
But I’m going to gently encourage you: step out of your comfort zone and do it anyway.
There’s a saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Dream chasing is already hard enough — don’t make it harder by trying to carry it all alone.
Reconnect with Your Dream to Keep Achieving Your Goals
You can have all the tools, systems, and routines you need to be successful — and still feel disconnected sometimes.
When you’re grinding day in and day out, it’s important to pause, reconnect, and refine your vision every now and then.
Dreams aren’t always static. They can grow, shift, and evolve over time. That’s why it’s not enough to set a goal once and forget it.
You have to nurture it.
You have to water it.
You have to keep reminding yourself why it matters.
Small rituals to stay connected:
- Journal about your dream: Write about the life you’re building, your progress, your gratitude.
- Visualize your future self: Close your eyes for a few minutes and picture the dream completed. Feel the emotions.
- Create a Dream Board (or Vision Board): Update it as your dreams evolve.
- Read your ‘why’ aloud weekly: Literally speak your mission into existence.
- Spend time around inspiring people or content: Podcasts, books, documentaries about people who kept going.
There was a point in time when I added visualization to my early morning routine. A big part of what I pictured was starting a family. And today, I’m actually living out the vision I saw back then — with my first little baby in my arms. It’s surreal to see a dream that once felt so far away become real right before my eyes.
That’s why it’s so important to keep revisiting your dreams.
Even when life gets busy.
Even when your goals shift a little.
Even when you’re tired.
Let’s normalize re-falling in love with your dream. It’s completely normal to go through phases where you feel disconnected — that doesn’t mean you’re failing. Coming back to your dream regularly is part of the process. Your dream deserves your attention — not just once when you set it, but over and over again as you chase it.
Give Yourself Grace and Adjust as Needed
Something my life coach helped me realize is that sometimes the “how” is different than we thought it would be. Life can get in the way and change our plans — and that’s okay.
I really learned that lesson after having my son. Before he was born, I had all the time in the world to work on my blog. Looking back, I wish I had started sooner because it’s a lot harder now — and honestly, that really bothered me at first.
I felt frustrated. I felt like I had missed my chance. But my coach reminded me: sometimes the route to your dream will have detours or delays. You might not get there the way you planned. You might have to take the long way around. But the destination is still the same — and it’s still waiting for you.
Giving yourself grace means forgiving yourself for what you didn’t know, couldn’t control, or weren’t ready for at the time. It means letting go of the idea that you have to move fast or get everything right the first time. It means trusting that you are still on your way.
Dreams don’t expire just because your timeline changed. Adjust as needed. Give yourself permission to keep going — no matter what.
If you need a little help giving yourself grace, try one of these:
- Pause and breathe instead of beating yourself up.
- Reframe setbacks as detours, not dead ends.
- Celebrate small wins — every step counts.
- Adjust your timeline without guilt.
- Speak kindly to yourself like you would a friend.
- Focus on one next step, not everything at once.
It’s not about how fast you get there. It’s about staying faithful to the life you’re building.
Conclusion: This Is Just The Beginning
Chasing your dreams isn’t about being perfect or having it all figured out from day one — it’s about showing up again and again, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when the road looks different than you imagined.
Staying consistent takes heart, grace, and a whole lot of faith. But if you keep going — even in small steps — you will see progress. You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re building something that matters, one day at a time.
If you need a little more encouragement, check out this post on How to Start a Gratitude Practice: A Beginner’s Guide. It’s a great reminder of how far you’ve come and how to stay grounded while going after what you want.
Keep dreaming. Keep showing up.
You got this — and I’m rooting for you.
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