Rebuilding Momentum: Why Devotion Beats Discipline
September hit hard this year, didn’t it?
Between back-to-school chaos, packed work schedules, and for many of my clients, the whirlwind of the education world, it feels like we’ve all been scrambling to keep our heads above water. And I’ll be honest, me too!
The first weeks of September had my momentum sliding in the wrong direction. I caught a nasty bug early in the month, work suddenly ramped up after the slower rhythm of summer, and I found myself feeling unmotivated. My usual routine felt heavier than normal, and it was frustrating.
It happens. To me, to us, to everyone. The goal isn’t to “never fall off.” It’s to catch ourselves, even if it means starting with the simplest thing, like a walk, some mobility, or five minutes of strength work.
Here’s the truth though: motivation is always temporary. It is a spark, not a long-burning fire. It can get us started, but it will never carry us through the weeks or months where everything feels like too much. That is when discipline usually comes in. And yes, discipline matters. Showing up for half a workout because that is all we have in the tank still keeps the habit alive. This helps us creative positive momentum.
Momentum doesn’t care if it is big or small, it just moves in the direction we choose. And momentum can work for or against us. One skipped workout becomes two, two becomes a week, and suddenly it feels harder to restart. But the same is true on the positive side. One short walk can spark a stretch, a stretch can lead to a strength session, and before we know it, we are back in the flow. The direction is always in our hands, and every small choice tips the balance.
But here is what I realized this September. When life feels overscheduled and draining, discipline alone can start to feel cold and rigid. That is where devotion comes in.
Devotion vs. Discipline
Discipline protects our momentum: “Show up, even if it is short or scaled back.”
Devotion shifts the energy: “Each time we show up, we are choosing to move with love for ourselves.”
Discipline is about checking a box. Devotion is about remembering why the box matters in the first place.
In the summer, we often get more sun, more outdoor time, more connection with people we love. That fills us up. But come fall, when the days shorten and demands pile up, we need to actively find new ways to stay recharged.
Devotion to movement means shifting it from a burden on our to-do list into a practice that nourishes, grounds, and supports us. Devotion is the softer, steadier energy behind consistency. It does not demand perfection. It invites presence. It lets us adapt without guilt. A walk counts. A stretch counts. A scaled-back strength session counts. Because devotion is not about performance. It is about reconnection.
Approaching movement with devotion turns it into a refuge. A way to honour our bodies, recharge our energy, and remind ourselves that we are on our own team. Research on habit formation shows that small, consistent actions compound over time, building momentum far more effectively than occasional bursts of effort.¹ Psychology experts also note that rigidity often backfires, while flexible discipline, the kind devotion nurtures, is what actually sustains us long term.²
The Invitation
So if September knocked us flat too, let’s take it as a chance to reframe. Instead of asking, “Do we have the discipline to do this?” let’s ask, “Can we devote 20 minutes to ourselves today?”
That shift changes everything. Because devotion does not demand perfection. It just asks for presence. And that is more than enough to get our momentum moving back in the right direction.
This September reminded me, and maybe it reminded us, that we don’t need to do it all to stay on track. We just need to keep showing up with devotion.
Talk soon,
Allison
¹ See: James Clear’s work on habit formation and “atomic habits” — small actions compound to create big change.
² Psychology Today highlights how rigid discipline often leads to burnout, while flexible discipline allows sustainability.
