MOTIVATION: THE FUEL THAT MOVES US FORWARD - be Tyler Durden’s future
Let’s cut to the truth: we all need motivation.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic athlete, a parent juggling three jobs, a student, or someone just trying to get through another day — motivation is the difference between starting something and staying stuck.
Some of us are naturally self-motivated. We wake up hungry. We’re wired to chase.
Others? We need a reason to get going. A purpose. A spark that lights the fire.
That’s okay. There’s no shame in needing something—or someone—to help you remember why you’re doing it.
But here’s the common thread: before you start anything meaningful in life—whether it’s a new career, a fitness transformation, a diet overhaul, or even taking the leap into a new relationship—there has to be motivation.
Without it, you’ll burn out. You’ll quit before you even get close.
The Role of Visualization in Motivation
This is where visualization becomes a game-changer.
You have to see what you want before you go after it.
You need to mentally walk through what success looks like, what it feels like, how your life will change if you actually follow through. The mind leads, the body follows.
The Science Backs It Up
Visualization isn’t just some “woo woo” concept from a self-help book. It’s science-backed and performance-proven.
A study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that mental practice through visualization can produce muscle memory and strength gains even without physical movement.
Athletes who ONLY visualized free throws improved by 23%, compared to those who ONLY practiced physically, who improved by 24%—nearly the same.
A Harvard study showed that those who ONLY mentally rehearsed playing the piano showed nearly identical changes in brain structure as those who physically practiced.
Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a vividly imagined event and a real one.
That’s the power. That’s the tool. That’s where motivation lives.
My Motivation
Let me bring this home.
At this stage in my life, my motivation is my son. It’s not about abs. It’s not about a six-pack. It’s not about setting PRs in the gym anymore.
It’s about showing up every single day with the strength, clarity, and energy to support him. To protect him. To guide him.
I envision him growing up. One day, maybe, he will become a dad himself.
And I don’t just want to be in his life—I want to be capable in his life.
I picture moments that fuel me:
Going to the grocery store for him and grabbing all the bags because he’s exhausted from working his tail off.
Taking his kids for a weekend so he and his partner can reset and reconnect.
Being mentally sharp enough to help him navigate tough decisions—career moves, fatherhood, health, relationships.
Being physically fit enough to hike, play ball, and wrestle on the floor with my grandkids.
That’s what I visualize. That’s what keeps me going when I’m tired, frustrated, or just don’t feel like it.
Why It Matters So Much for Me
If you’ve followed my journey, you know I’ve battled Myasthenia Gravis (MG)—an autoimmune disorder that’s unpredictable, relentless, and, at times, crushing.
There were days I woke up with double vision, like I had glaucoma.
Other mornings it was vertigo so intense I couldn’t stand.
Some symptoms lingered until bedtime, some disappeared just as fast as they came.
In the beginning, it broke me.
It messed with my head, hijacked my routine, and flipped my emotions upside down. I’d go through waves of anger, discouragement, even despair. I felt like my body was sabotaging me.
But I had to face a hard truth: this isn’t going away.
So I had two options—break, or bend.
And I bent.
I stopped waiting for “normal.” I stopped negotiating with the condition.
I started building a mindset so resilient, so grounded, that even if MG showed up, I wouldn’t flinch.
Now, no matter what my body throws at me, I stay on mission. Because my purpose is clear. My motivation is locked in. And I refuse to be derailed.
Find Your Motivation. Lock It In. Build Around It.
This is your blueprint. Not mine.
My story’s just proof that it can be done.
You have your own reasons. Maybe it’s your kids. Your health. Your parents. Your future self. A vision of the person you know you’re capable of becoming.
So here’s your job:
Find that reason. Get clear on it. Visualize it in detail. Then build your habits around it.
FAQs About Motivation
Q: What if I don’t feel motivated at all?
A: Start anyway. Action builds momentum. Motivation follows movement. You don’t wait to feel motivated—you earn motivation through doing.
Q: I keep losing motivation. What’s wrong with me?
A: Nothing’s wrong. You’re human. Revisit your “why.” Adjust your goals if needed. Sometimes the target isn’t inspiring you because it’s not aligned anymore.
Q: Does visualization really work?
A: Yes. Athletes, CEOs, and military professionals use it daily. Visualizing your goals lights up your brain’s reward system and primes your body to follow through.
Q: Can I motivate someone else?
A: You can inspire them. But they have to find their own reason. Show up as your best self and lead by example. That’s the most powerful motivator there is.
Final Thoughts
You get one shot at this life. You can coast through it. Or you can rise to it.
Motivation is not hype. It’s not loud. It’s not always exciting.
It’s the quiet promise you make to yourself that this matters. That you’ll keep going even when it’s hard. That your goal, your vision, your why—is worth it.
So get clear. Get gritty.
Build a mind that doesn’t break.
Build a body that won’t quit.
Build a life that aligns with the person you know you were meant to be. Your Tyler Durden
Let’s get it.