Is What You Say and Do in Alignment?

Today is Memorial Day, a day of honor, reflection, and gratitude. Our community knows better than anyone that it’s not just a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer. It’s a time to remember the brave men and women who took an oath and gave everything in service to our country. Their sacrifice is the reason we have the freedom to chase our goals and live with purpose.

In honor of those who took bold, selfless action for us, I wanted to release this episode. It’s a reminder that the best way to honor their legacy is not just with words, but with our actions. We have the privilege to build, grow, and live freely. Let’s not waste it.

In this episode, I’m putting a spotlight on the gap between your intention and your action. If you’ve been all talk and little follow-through, this is your kick in the pants to step it up.

The Truth

Let’s start with this truth: Your words don’t need discipline, your actions do. Saying you want to be debt-free or financially independent sounds great. But those words don’t change your life. What you do does.

If you keep saying the right things but taking half-hearted steps, you’re just spinning your wheels. It’s not about what you hope for or dream about. It’s about what you choose to do day in and day out. Alignment of your words and actions isn’t accidental. It takes intention, courage, and consistency.

What Happens If You Don’t Act

One day, you’ll look back and regret that you didn’t give it your all or worse, that you never even tried. You’ll wonder what could’ve happened if you just followed through.

Sometimes fear holds us back. Fear of failing. But what if you don’t fail? What if success is on the other side of that first scary step, and you’re just wasting precious time in your head, playing out all the ways things could go wrong?

And even if you do fail, is that really the worst thing? Failure teaches. It sharpens. It strengthens. Yes, failure stings, but wounds heal and the lessons stay with you. You can use them. Grow from them. Don’t let fear be the reason your actions don’t match your goals.

Live By Your Words

If you say you want to start a business, take the first step. Get the domain, write the plan, make the call. If you want a higher-paying job, stop just daydreaming. Start networking, update your resume, and apply. If you want $2 million at retirement, start now. Get out of debt, invest consistently, and stay committed.

Don’t Just Talk a Good Game—Play One

What’s in your head can’t become your reality if you never take action. You are the captain of your ship. You can set the course, but if you never put wind in the sails, you’re not going anywhere.

Above All, Show Up For Yourself

That means keeping the promises you make when no one else is watching. It means following through not because someone told you to, but because you and your goals matter. Because your future deserves it.

We often show up for others, our unit or coworkers, our family, but when it comes to our own goals, our own dreams, we’re quick to push them aside. We cancel on ourselves, postpone what’s important, or delay our own growth because we’re tired, unsure, or scared.

But showing up for yourself is the ultimate act of self-respect. It’s getting up early to work on your dream or your health, even when it’s hard. It’s saying no to the quick fix so you can say yes to long-term gain. It’s honoring the goals you set, especially when no one else is cheering you on.

So if you’ve been waiting for permission to go for it, this is it. Today is the day you stop breaking promises to yourself. Today is the day you stop ghosting your own goals.

Show up. Stay in it. Keep going because no one else can do this for you. And when you do show up consistently, that’s when the real momentum starts to build and the results follow.

Because of the life you say you want is waiting for you. You just have to go take action that lines up with your words.

Wrapping it Up

As I close out this Memorial Day episode, I want to leave you with this.

The freedom we enjoy, the ability to dream, to choose, to build a better life, came at a cost. Others took action. They showed up. They gave everything. And now, we get to decide what we’ll do with that gift.

Don’t let your dreams stay stuck in your head. Don’t let fear, doubt, or the distraction of what other people may think keep you from following through. Say what you mean and do what you say. Align your actions with your goals, not just to change your life, but to honor the legacy of those who made your opportunities possible.

You don’t need a perfect plan. You need movement. You need courage. You need to show up for yourself today, tomorrow, and the day after that because you are capable. And because time is too precious to waste in neutral. Don’t waster another day. Do something!

Support for the MILMO Show is provided by Navy Federal Credit Union. Happy Military Appreciation Month to everyone. It’s a special month for our community, and Navy Fed wants to celebrate its members. One of their offers in honor of Military Appreciation Month: Join and get $50 when you open a credit card. To get that offer, you must join and open a membership savings account between May 1st and May 31st. They also offer member-only exclusive rates, discounts and tools to empower their members and help them reach their goals. You can learn more about their Military Appreciation Month offers at navyfederal.org/celebrate.

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