Achieve Your Dream: 5 Ways to Stay Inspired

We all have dreams.

Some dreams are fleeting — they come and go. Some are lofty and can be intimidating to accomplish. Some change over time. And some, when realized, can drastically improve our quality of life.

No matter what your dreams are, they often have a similar obstacle — how to follow through on them. We can all relate to having responsibilities and/or realities that seem to be at odds with fulfilling our dreams. Life can get in the way of accomplishing what we really want to achieve in life.

This can make reaching your goals difficult for sure, but also likely not impossible.

In fact, you’ve probably already accomplished more than you think, and you likely have it in you to stay inspired to push through many of the challenges in your way.

Here’s a list of five things you can start doing now to help keep your inner fire burning bright:

1. Visualize Your Future

   The future can be new and exciting, but it can also be scary to think about. After all, the future is uncharted territory. Achieving your dream is a lot like a trip. Think about what you do when you plan a trip to somewhere you’ve never been. You probably research where you’d like to stay and the types of activities that you want to check out while visiting.

   Now think about your life as if it were a new travel destination. What does that look like? Maybe it’s that you’ve graduated with a degree and are pursuing a career. When you start to envision yourself in that ideal life of yours, it becomes easier to realize what motivates you and how to plan for the specific future you want for yourself.

   Ask yourself: “How will my life be different when I ___________?”

2. Acknowledge Your Past

   When thinking about how you’ll pursue your dream, it’s easy to get caught up in the uncertainty of what will be, and we often forget how we got to where we’re at now. It’s common to remember the bad things that have happened and the obstacles that you’ve had to overcome. But remember, you’re here now, and though you might not be exactly where you want to be, getting here is an achievement in and of itself.

   Think about that. Those obstacles that you’ve faced in the past — how did you overcome them? Answering that question can be a good way to not only serve as your own inspiration but to also give yourself some pointers on how you can overcome future obstacles in trying to accomplish your current goals.

   “Let go of the past, but keep the lessons it taught you.”

   – Chiara Gizzi

3. Use Your Support System

   Whether it’s a friend, loved one, family member, or even a licensed professional, be conscious of the people around you who are willing to listen — there might be more than you think. You may believe that you’re alone in your journey. You might even feel like a burden to others when you speak about the obstacles you face.

   You’re not.

   No matter what’s troubling you, being open to asking for help or seeking it out takes a great deal of vulnerability. That in itself can be its own obstacle, but once you overcome that fear of opening yourself up to help, you might find a support system you never knew existed.

   READ: 4 Tips to Effectively Ask for Help — and Get a Yes

4. Manage Your Time

   If you struggle with managing your time — don’t worry — you’re not the only one. Knowing where you want to end up, what you’re currently spending your time on, and planning accordingly are three of the main pillars in optimizing your schedule.

   Making a to-do list may seem simple, maybe even so simple that it seems like a waste of time. But sitting down and writing out what you want to do with your day or week is time well spent. This allows you to potentially set time limits on reoccurring, menial tasks. It can also help you find gaps in your schedule to work on a passion project, complete coursework, or relax — don’t overlook giving yourself a break.

   And when you finish your day, it’s important not to “should” yourself. When the day is at an end, do you ever find yourself thinking about the things you should have done? Accountability is great, but don’t get down on yourself. When you say, “I should have,” you’re setting this invisible standard for yourself that no one else is setting but you. If couldn’t get to a task, just put it on tomorrow’s to-do list!

5. Remember Your ‘Why’

   Finally, as you’re going through this journey to achieve your dream, think about what sparked that dream to begin with.

   If you’re pursuing an education, why? The plain and simple answer might be to earn your degree so you can then pursue a lasting career in that field. That makes sense, but let’s probe a little deeper. Is it to earn a higher wage to support your children? Perhaps it’s for a more manageable schedule so you can take care for a loved one. Or maybe it’s to prove something to those who thought you couldn’t. It can be motivating to think through a very detailed answer to why you’re pursuing your goals.

   Regardless of the reason, remember your why and keep reminding yourself of it. Because when you hit a roadblock on the way to your dream, when inspiration seems to be at a low, thinking back to what made you begin this journey might be all the inspiration you need to keep moving.

Helpful Resources:

• How to Find Motivation to Chase Your Dreams When Life is Overwhelming
• 6 simple, realistic ways of staying inspired and motivated

How UMA Supports Inspiration

Ultimate Medical Academy is an educational institution that prepares its students for careers in healthcare. We support our students’ goals of earning their education is by offering multiple teams of advisors dedicated to different aspects of their journey — all working to help students remain motivated and working toward success.

Whether it’s in their Courseroom or in their personal life, our advisors are there to listen and to be a support system for each student, whether they have one already or not. From the very beginning, we listen to the goals and dreams of people who are considering UMA as an option. If they decide to enroll, we’re there every step of the way to help them with an extended support system that includes guiding them toward available resources that can better prepare them for academic success.

Our Learner Services team plays a big role in guiding students toward supportive resources to overcome personal obstacles so they can continue their journey.

Visit to learn more about our Learn Services team and about other supportive teams at UMA.